South Africa beat Australia by 176 in Cape Town as WTC 2025–27 table and leaderboards shift

South Africa defeated Australia by 176 runs in the third Test in Cape Town in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27, the deciding match reported on October 31, 2026. The result completed a 2–1 series win for the Proteas in the three-match set.

The Australia tour began on October 9 and opened with a 214-run victory for the tourists in Durban. South Africa responded by winning the second Test by an innings and 31 runs before securing the series in the final match. Simon Harmer was named Player of the Match after taking 10 wickets in the Cape Town Test, and Marco Jansen won the Player of the Series award for his all-round performances in the last two Tests.

With the series triumph, South Africa have moved up in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 points table. To qualify for the WTC 2025–27 final, teams need to finish in the top two positions in the points table. Once again, South Africa have a good chance of qualifying for the WTC final.

New Zealand sit atop the standings with a PCT of 72.22%. They have played six matches in this cycle, winning four and losing one.

South Africa occupy second place with a PCT of 71.43%, having won five matches and lost two so far. Australia slipped to third after losing the Cape Town Test; they have played 13 matches in this cycle and won nine, with a PCT of 69.23%, and will need to maintain that percentage to press for qualification.

India are fourth with a PCT of 51.52%, having won five of the 11 matches they have played so far. Bangladesh are fifth with a PCT of 47.62% and England sit sixth with a PCT of 38.54%.

England’s Joe Root leads the run-scorers list with 1,272 runs, followed closely by teammate Harry Brook with 1,271. Australia’s Travis Head is third on 1,124 and India captain Shubman Gill is fourth with 1,024; England opener Ben Duckett also appears among the leading run-scorers.

Mitchell Starc moved to the top of the wicket-takers list after his performances in the South Africa series, taking 73 wickets in the cycle. Josh Tongue is second on the list with 64 wickets.

New Zealand will next host India in a two-match Test series. Teams must finish in the top two of the WTC 2025–27 points table to qualify for the final.