Harmer’s Six Wickets Seal South Africa’s Series Win

Australia needed 288 runs to win the Cape Town Test. Before lunch on the final day, South Africa’s bowlers had cut the visitors to 60 for seven. Simon Harmer then took six wickets for 16 runs as Australia folded for 111. The 176-run win gave South Africa the series 2-1 and the top spot in the Test rankings. ^2,3

That 60 for seven began with Kagiso Rabada’s burst in the first over. He dismissed Matt Renshaw for a duck and Marnus Labuschagne for four, then removed Travis Head for 14 to reach 350 Test wickets. A run-out added to Australia’s trouble before Harmer took over. He dismissed Alex Carey, then broke the resistance of Cameron Green and captain Pat Cummins.^10,14 Australia had started the decider with a 100-run lead after scoring 429 to South Africa’s 329 in the first innings. ¹³

That 100-run lead makes the turnaround more striking. South Africa had lost the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, then answered with an innings win in Gqeberha before taking the decider. Centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder helped set Australia 288 to chase, while other players also helped keep South Africa in the contest. The result returns the Proteas to No. 1 for the first time since January 2016, with 124 ranking points to Australia’s 122. ^7,11

Australia’s 111 all out followed a collapse to 99 in the previous Test, raising questions about its batting after the series loss. South Africa, the reigning World Test champions, now hold the top ranking as well as the series win. The World Test Championship table is a separate measure: New Zealand leads it, with South Africa second and Australia third. Both sides must now carry these results into their upcoming Test matches. ^4,9