South Africa Beat Australia by 176 Runs at Newlands — Simon Harmer's Ten Wickets Win the Series 2-1
Set 288, Australia were bowled out for 111. Kagiso Rabada struck twice in the first over of the chase, and Harmer's 6 for 16 from 21.1 overs gave him ten in the match and South Africa the top Test ranking.
Match Summary
| South Africa 1st innings | 329 (82.3 overs): Marques Ackerman 95, Aiden Markram 78, Marco Jansen 52, David Bedingham 50; Mitchell Starc 6/72 |
| Australia 1st innings | 429 (125.1 overs): Josh Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80, Matt Renshaw 74, Cameron Green 65; Simon Harmer 4/104, Marco Jansen 3/60 |
| South Africa 2nd innings | 387 (134.4 overs): Wiaan Mulder 115, Ryan Rickelton 101, Ackerman 62; Starc 3/65 |
| Australia 2nd innings | 111 (57.1 overs): Nathan Lyon 33*, Green 27; Harmer 6/16, Rabada 3/39 |
| Result | South Africa won by 176 runs; series 2-1 |
| Player of the Match | Simon Harmer, 10/120 |
| Venue | Newlands, Cape Town |
Australia led by 100 on first innings, Inglis and Carey having added 185 for the fifth wicket. South Africa were 181 for 5 in reply and the series was leaning away from them. Then Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder stayed. Their stand of 154 used up time as well as bowlers, Rickelton's 101 taking 219 balls and Mulder's 115 taking 221. It left Australia a target of 288, and it left them with a pitch that had begun to help the spinner.
Rabada took Renshaw and Labuschagne in the first over of the chase, and Australia were 5 for 2 before they had found their feet. He added Head soon after. Harmer did the rest with a spell of remarkable control: 21.1 overs, 14 maidens, 6 for 16. Credit to Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who batted 90 and 57 balls and added 45 for the ninth wicket, but the outcome was never in serious doubt by then. Lyon's unbeaten 33 was the top score, which says most of what needs saying.
South Africa recovered from a heavy defeat in Durban to take the series, and with it the No. 1 Test ranking. Australia, who began this match with reasons for optimism and led it after two innings, lost ten wickets for 111 when it mattered. Their captain has said change is coming, and New Zealand arrive in Perth on December 9.
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