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Harmer shines as South Africa wins third Test against Australia to claim series 2-1

South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs in Cape Town to take the series 2-1.

By , Sports writer

· 2 min read

Simon Harmer
Simon Harmer (file photo) Photo: EGilham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Hindu reported South Africa won the third Test by 176 runs and claimed the series 2-1. Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-16 as Australia was bowled out for 111 chasing 288.

Key takeaways

  • South Africa won the third Test by 176 runs at Newlands, Cape Town
  • Australia was bowled out for 111 chasing 288 on day five
  • Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-16 and match figures of 10-120
  • Kagiso Rabada reached 350 career Test wickets
  • South Africa won the series 2-1 after losing the first Test in Durban

South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs in the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, October 31, 2026, to win the three-match series 2-1. Australia was bowled out for 111 while chasing 288 on day five. The victory meant South Africa dethroned Australia for the top spot in the ICC Test team rankings.

Match details

South Africa made 329 and 387 in its two innings. Australia scored 429 in its first innings to take a 100-run lead at Newlands. Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton scored centuries on day four to set up a 288-run target.

Australia collapsed to 60 for seven at lunch on day five morning. 1 overs and finished with match figures of 10 for 120, his first ten-wicket haul in Tests. Kagiso Rabada took three for 39 on Saturday to reach 350 career Test wickets.

Rabada took two wickets in his first over and a third shortly after, removing Matt Renshaw first ball, Marnus Labuschagne leg before wicket, and Travis Head with a reflex catch by Marco Jansen at gully.

Josh Inglis was run out, and Harmer took two wickets in three balls to leave Australia at 42 for six. Mitchell Starc was caught at short leg when Australia was 60 for seven at lunch. South Africa completed the win shortly before tea.

Series context

This was the first Test series between the teams in South Africa since the "Sandpapergate" scandal in 2018. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. South Africa won the second Test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs. All three matches produced a result on the fifth day. South Africa rallied from 1-0 down to claim the series.

What happens next

The sources do not state any future fixture or series decision.

Sources

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