Harmer takes ten in the match as SA clinch series decider against Australia
Australia were bowled out for 111 in pursuit of 288, with Harmer bagging 6 for 16 after Rabada's three early blows
27/10Result
3rd Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Cape Town, Oct 27-31 2026
-
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
329 & 387 -
![Australia]( "Australia")
429 & 111 (57.1 ov)
Player of the Match
27/10Result
3rd Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Cape Town, Oct 27-31 2026
-
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
329 & 387 -
![Australia]( "Australia")
429 & 111 (57.1 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Day 4
Mulder, Rickelton tons set Australia 288 target
South Africa were dismissed in the last over for 387 in their second innings in a terrific fightback after trailing on the first innings by 100 runs
Day 2
Inglis leads reshuffled Australia to advantage in Cape Town
Renshaw, Green and the unbeaten Carey also hit half-centuries to leave the hosts frustrated in Newlands
Day 1
Starc six-for sends SA sliding from 158 for 0 to 329 all out
Ackerman, Markram and Jansen struck half-centuries for SA on day one
Others
Is the height difference between Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen the highest in a century stand?
Also, does Simon Harmer have the best bowling average in the fourth innings of Tests?
Lyon's fading force, Smith at No. 3, and the never-ending Boland debate - Questions for Australia after series defeat
The Test side has lost their three-match series in South Africa from 1-0 up and an ageing side will now have to find answers aplenty ahead of their home summer next month
Australia's Halloween horror show comes at a heavy cost
A calamitous final morning capped a series of missed opportunities, questionable calls and increasingly familiar batting failures
South Africa underline world-beating credentials with comeback win
Temba Bavuma described the series against Australia as "15 days of just pressure" even as SA turned a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 win
Cummins accepts change is on the cards as Australia come up short again
Australia captain takes criticism on the chin after third loss in five Tests
Australia lose top spot in WTC standings and Test ranking after Cape Town defeat
Australia also lost their No.1 ranking to South Africa after suffering defeat in Cape Town
Australia hope Smith can find Cape Town redemption arc
A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores - Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpapergate scandal
Cummins: 'I think we're a really good side'
Skipper says he's relatively happy with how Australia is going despite 2-1 series loss to SA and losing four of their last seven Tests
The pace of Rabada, the guile of Harmer, the heart of South Africa
South Africa found heroes in the moments that mattered most in the Newlands Test
Temba Bavuma toasts South Africa's 'No. 1 Test win'
After their heavy defeat in Durban, South Africa bounced back against Australia to claim the series and the No.1 ranking
'It's win or lose. No draw tomorrow': Rickelton anticipates gripping final day
Australia need 287 runs, South Africa need ten wickets, and the series is set for a fascinating conclusion
Steadfast Rickelton sets the agenda as South Africa refuse to go quietly
Batter extends his remarkable Newlands record as Mulder takes cue to stretch crucial third innings
Australia's turn to hang tough as epic series goes down to the wire
Opportunities were few and far between during South Africa's second innings, but Australia stayed in touch as best they could
McDonald: Australia will 'reassess' Labuschagne selection and squad's 'age profile'
While Australia head coach conceded it would be difficult to talk up positives straight after a series defeat, he was adamant there had been development in the batting
Spinners poised to shape decider as Newlands pitch turns
The pitch, which has been flat and conducive for run-scoring, has already started to take turn, and the increasing number of puffs of dust suggests there is more on the way
Harmer, Rabada, Coetzee fight back after Inglis 102
Australia managed to build a lead of 82 runs despite losing four wickets in the session
Cummins' wicket drought continues despite proactive captaincy
Pat Cummins' wicket drought reaches 358 deliveries but his proactive bowling changes keep South Africa under pressure in the third Test
South Africa batters given short shrift as Australia seize control
Pace trio reassert their pre-eminence as Newlands Test tilts in visitor's favour
Inglis' supersub role gives selectors much to ponder
A last-minute call to replace Steven Smith was followed by a second Test century
Verreynne, Prince handed official reprimands and one demerit point each
They breached Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct in Cape Town for showing dissent after Marques Ackerman's dismissal in the second innings
Scans show joint injury for Smith, expected to be fit to face NZ
He had been hampered since the second Test and shortly before play started at Newlands decided he wouldn't be able to get through the match
South Africa feel the strain as Rabada battles cramps, Jansen back stiffness
Jansen did not take the field after tea but returned soon after, while Rabada is expected to be back on day three
Conrad: 'I don't think you ever want to walk around saying you are the best'
"We can be awesome one minute and absolutely horrendous the next. In the end, we're a lot more awesome than we are horrendous and that's the pleasing part for me"
Newlands saps South Africa's seamers, despite Jansen's double-strike
Tough day in the field for potent pace quartet as Australia thrive in best of batting conditions
Jansen owns cuckoo and calm to put Australia to sleep
Jansen spent sleepless nights before giving Australia just that with not just his bowling but also batting and fielding
South Africa, Australia and the unsubtle swing of fortune
This series has gone one way full-on and then the other way full-on. The trend continued in Cape Town
Smith's return to Cape Town a pain in the neck for him and Australia
The veteran's late withdrawal from the third Test due to a neck issue caused chaos for Australia and ended a strange and sorry return to South Africa for Smith
Attacking Ackerman rues his missed opportunity - and South Africa's
New opener rocks Australia with 95 off 94 balls before his soft dismissal sparks a collapse
Green returns, Smith out as Australia make four changes and bowl
Boland misses out again; South Africa bring in Coetzee for Nortje
Starc's admission: 'A lot of things that haven't felt right'
The left-armer said he had not felt at his best during the series but viewing footage made him feel he had over thought it
Smith undergoes fitness test ahead of decider in Cape Town
Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper have been released from the Test squad to play in the Sheffield Shield for their respective sides
It's as big as it gets as Newlands welcomes early Dezemba
With two evenly matched teams locked at 1-1, the series, the No.1 ranking and perhaps even the fate of the WTC mace are on the line
Harmer: SA realise Australia batters are human and can be put under pressure
Spinners back SA to adapt to whatever Cape Town throws at them in the series decider
'We're not here to fall over' - South Africa want to show how good they really are
With a series win in sight, Rickelton says South Africa want to back up their WTC title by beating the best and proving their credentials
'The intensity is good' - Rickelton embraces standing up to the stumps in Test cricket
South Africa's new wicketkeeper has added a new dimension to their bowling plans with his willingness to stand up to the stumps against Australia's batters
Who stays, who goes? Green's return and a host of questions for Australia
Here are the names at the centre of one of the most intriguing debates of recent times
Green available for Newlands Test, prefers No. 4 or 5 spot but leaves final call to Australia
Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won't be able to bowl in the final Test
Australia weigh up the Boland vs Lyon question for Newlands Test
Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia's second Test, but captain Cummins said his name will be 'front and centre' of discussions before the decider
Nortje ruled out of Test series decider with groin injury
Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Cape Town Test
Travis Head hopes under-fire Australia find 'that collective batting day'
Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships - or more than one batter standing tall at any given time - has hurt them the most
Australia glimpse into their batting future on a day that could decide series
Green, Renshaw, Inglis and Carey helped wrestle control in their favour at Newlands, but Labuschagne's spot looks all but lost
Series set for dramatic finish as Australia return to Cape Town
With series up for grabs, Australia have questions marks around both disciplines while South Africa's batting has shown it can be shaky