Harmer’s 6-16 sends South Africa to 176-run win over Australia in Cape Town, series 2-1

Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-16 as South Africa bowled Australia out for 111 to win the third Test by 176 runs in Cape Town on October 31, 2026 and clinch the three-match series 2-1.

South Africa posted 329 and 387 in their two innings while Australia had earlier made 429 in the first innings to hold a 100-run lead at Newlands. The Proteas recovered from a 1-0 deficit in the series, which was the first Test series between the teams in South Africa since the 2018 "Sandpapergate" scandal. Australia had won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa replied with an innings-and-31-runs victory in the second Test at Gqeberha.

Harmer, a 37-year-old off-spinner, finished the match with figures of 10-120, recording his first ten-wicket haul in Tests. His 6-16 on the final day was described in the match report as a career best and played a decisive role in restricting Australia.

Kagiso Rabada supported the attack with 3-39 on Saturday, reaching 350 career Test wickets in the process. On day four, Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton both scored centuries to build the 288-run target South Africa set for Australia on the fifth day.

Chasing 288, Australia collapsed to 60-7 at lunch on the final morning and were eventually dismissed for 111. The match report noted that Australia crumbled after being set the 288-run target, leaving the hosts to complete the comeback in the series.

The result concluded the deciding match of the three-Test series and handed South Africa the series win 2-1. Match figures, innings totals and the sequence of results across the three Tests determined the final outcome.

With the victory, South Africa moved to the top of the ICC Test team rankings, replacing Australia at number one.