Harmer's 10-wicket haul sinks Aus, powers SAto 2-1 series win
Cape Town, Oct 31 (UNI) Simon Harmer turned Newlands into his hunting ground, producing a match-winning 10-wicket haul to dismantle Australia by 176 runs in the third and final Test on Saturday, completing South Africa's 2-1 series win and restoring the Proteas to the No.1 position in the ICC Test rankings.
There was no hiding place for Australia once Harmer found his rhythm. The veteran off-spinner combined flight, dip, accuracy and sharp turn to take six wickets in the second innings, adding to his four-wicket effort in the first, as the visitors were bowled out for 111 in 57.1 overs while chasing a challenging target. It was a performance built on patience and persistence, with Harmer repeatedly drawing Australian batsmen forward before exploiting the smallest gaps between bat and pad. When the final wicket fell, it was fitting that the spinner was at the centre of the celebrations.
Australia's last resistance ended in the 57.1st over when Harmer deceived Josh Hazlewood with a beautifully flighted delivery. It drifted in, dipped in front of the batsman and turned away to beat his defence and hit the top of off-stump. Harmer had his sixth, South Africa had their victory, and Newlands had its moment. The foundation for the collapse, however, was laid by Kagiso Rabada, whose early strikes left Australia struggling to find their footing. Matt Renshaw fell for a duck in the opening over, caught behind, before Marnus Labuschagne was trapped leg-before for four. Labuschagne reviewed the decision, but ball-tracking showed the delivery would have clipped the off-stump.
Travis Head (14) became Rabada's third victim, edging to Marco Jansen at gully. The wicket also took Rabada to the landmark of 350 Test wickets. With Australia under pressure, Harmer took charge of the middle and lower order, dismissing Alex Carey (2), Cooper Connolly (0), Mitchell Starc (0), Cameron Green (27), Pat Cummins (11) and Hazlewood (0). Green offered the most determined resistance, occupying the crease for 110 deliveries and scoring 27. But Harmer eventually beat him in flight as the allrounder advanced down the track, leaving a gap between bat and pad through which the ball crashed into the stumps. Cummins, meanwhile, fought a lone battle, facing 90 balls for his 11 runs.
Harmer finally ended the Australian captain's resistance in the 55.3rd over, beating his forward defence with a delivery that went on with the arm and struck him in front. Cummins reviewed, but ball-tracking confirmed the ball would have clipped the off-stump. Harmer's figures could have been even better had two difficult chances gone his way. Green survived a low return catch when Harmer dived to his left in the 13.1st over but could not hold on. Mitchell Starc also escaped after edging one in the 20th over, with the ball deflecting off wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton's gloves and striking the first-slip fielder on the chest. Earlier, South Africa had built the platform with 329 in their first innings and 387 in the second, with centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder strengthening their position.
Australia responded with 429 in their first innings but could not withstand the hosts' combined pace and spin attack in the final innings. The defeat ended Australia's remarkable run of not losing a Test series since March 2023. Under Cummins, they had won the World Test Championship in 2023 and reached the final again in 2025. For South Africa, the series victory was a statement of their resurgence in the longest format.
Rabada supplied the early pace, but Harmer's control and craft delivered the decisive blow, making him the defining performer of a contest that ended with the Proteas back on top of Test cricket. Brief Scores: South Africa: 329 & 387; Australia: 429 & 111 (57.1 overs); South Africa won by 176 runs. Key performers: Simon Harmer 10 wickets (4 6); Kagiso Rabada 350th Test wicket; Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder scored centuries.
UNI BDN
