Harmer finishes off Australia as Proteas clinch series

South Africa won the third Test against Australia by 176 runs at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday 31 October, taking the series 2–1. The Proteas bowled Australia out for 111 in the final innings, with the visitors needing 288 to win.

Rabada opens the door, Harmer slams it shut

The decisive day turned in the very first over. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Matt Renshaw for a duck, then Marnus Labuschagne for four. Australia were five for two. The fast bowler then removed Travis Head, caught by Marco Jansen for 14, and at 22 for three the chase was already in trouble.

Simon Harmer took over with his spin. He dismissed Alex Carey and Cooper Connolly in the same over, then went on to work through the Australian lower order. His final figures of six wickets for just sixteen runs show the control he exerted over this last innings.

Cameron Green resisted for 27. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon then added 45 together, delaying the inevitable. Harmer eventually removed Cummins for eleven, before bowling Josh Hazlewood, the last man out. Lyon was left not out on 33.

A win built after a deficit of a hundred runs

Harmer finishes the match with ten wickets, after his four in Australia's first innings, and was named player of the match. Rabada ended the final innings with three wickets for 39 runs.

The victory also rewards the recovery of South Africa's batters. After making 329 and then letting Australia reach 429, the Proteas had conceded a lead of a hundred runs. Their second innings of 387, powered the previous day by hundreds from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder, gave the bowlers the cushion they needed to attack right to the end.

Beaten in the first Test in Durban, South Africa turned the series around by winning the next two matches. In Cape Town, resilience with the bat and the combination of Rabada's pace and Harmer's spin made the difference.