Third Test, Cape Town (Day Five of Five)
South Africa 329 & 387: Mulder 115, Rickelton 101
Australia 429 & 111: Lyon 33*; Rabada 3-39; Harmer 6-16
South Africa won by 176 runs
David Warner delivered a scathing assessment of his former team, labelling Australia’s performance “terrible,” “utterly disgraceful,” and “un-Australian” as they collapsed under pressure on the final day, handing South Africa a famous Test and series victory at Newlands.
Chasing 288 to win a captivating contest, the tourists lost two wickets in the very first over from Kagiso Rabada and never recovered. Rabada was exceptional, claiming the crucial wicket of Travis Head at slip during a stunning opening spell that also saw him become the fastest bowler to reach 350 Test wickets.
Australia contributed to their own demise when Josh Inglis was run out for four after a disastrous mix-up with Cameron Green. That dismissal opened the door for spinner Simon Harmer, who removed Alex Carey for two with a reverse sweep and trapped Cooper Connolly leg-before for a two-ball duck.
With the side reeling at 60 for 7 at lunch, Warner—who retired from Test cricket in January 2024—launched a blistering attack on his former teammates during commentary duties for Fox Sports.
“It is terrible,” Warner said. “It is un-Australian. There is no fight whatsoever. It is disgraceful. The batters have let the bowlers down all series. Matt Renshaw showed fight in that first Test but I think the batters have been utterly disgraceful.”
Australia attempted to bat out time after the interval, managing just a single scoring shot in 50 minutes, but Harmer proved unstoppable. He wrapped up the innings to claim career-best figures of 6 for 16 as Australia were bowled out for 111.
The defeat kicks off a grueling schedule for Pat Cummins’ side, which now faces four home Tests against New Zealand starting in December, followed by a five-Test tour of India, the 150th-anniversary Test against England in March, and next summer’s Ashes series. The repercussions of this loss could be significant.
South Africa’s triumph, secured across three compelling and fluctuating matches, returns the Proteas to the summit of the world rankings and reaffirms their standing among the world’s elite Test nations.
