South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test: Proteas Win by 176 Runs

Updated November 1, 2026, following the final result on October 31: South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs in the third Test at YesPlay Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, winning the three-match series 2–1. The Proteas finished with 329 and 387; Australia made 429 and 111. Cricket Australia's completed-match listing and the ICC's final report confirm that the contest has ended.

This replaces the previous day-three update, when South Africa was 140 for 4 and led by 40 runs. That was an accurate overnight position, but the fourth-day recovery and fifth-day result have superseded it. The fixture occupied its scheduled October 27–31 window, with the home side securing victory on the final day.

South Africa vs Australia third Test: final score

Result: South Africa won by 176 runs. Series result: South Africa won 2–1. Australia's fourth-innings target: 288. The completed scores are recorded in Cricket Australia's official series listing and the ICC match center.

How South Africa turned a 100-run deficit into victory

Australia's first-innings 429 established a 100-run advantage over South Africa's 329. The hosts therefore had to erase that deficit before building a lead. At day-three stumps on October 29, they had reached 140 for 4, leaving the match unresolved with six second-innings wickets available.

The decisive recovery came on October 30. Ryan Rickelton scored 101 and Wiaan Mulder made 115, sharing a 154-run sixth-wicket partnership after Mulder arrived at 181 for 5. South Africa eventually reached 387 in 134.4 overs. Rickelton was run out by Josh Inglis, while Mulder was the final wicket to fall. The ICC's day-four report confirms those contributions and the target of 288.

The target follows directly from the innings totals: South Africa's aggregate of 716 exceeded Australia's first innings by 287, so Australia needed 288 to win. Its eventual 111 left it 176 runs behind South Africa on aggregate. These are the completed-match figures, rather than projections based on an earlier lead.

Harmer and Rabada settle the final day

Kagiso Rabada removed Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in the opening over of Australia's chase, then dismissed Travis Head. Simon Harmer subsequently took control with spin as the visitors' batting fell away. Australia was dismissed before tea on October 31, ending the Test and deciding the series.

Harmer finished with 6 for 16 from 21.1 overs in the second innings and match figures of 10 for 120. Rabada took 3 for 39 in the chase. Nathan Lyon's unbeaten 33 was Australia's highest second-innings score; Cameron Green contributed 27. Cricket Australia's final-day report details the collapse and confirms the winning margin.

How the first two days set up the contest

South Africa made an aggressive start after Pat Cummins won the toss and put the hosts in to bat on October 27. Aiden Markram scored 78 and Marques Ackerman 95 as the openers added 158, according to Cricket Australia's first-day account. Mitchell Starc then took six wickets as South Africa was dismissed for 329.

Australia reached 330 for 4 by stumps on October 28. The ICC's day-two report recorded half-centuries from Renshaw and Green, with Inglis unbeaten on 85 and Alex Carey on 51. Australia's lead was only one run at that checkpoint; its completed innings of 429 increased the advantage to 100.

Newlands venue, scheduled playing days and start time

The third Test was staged at YesPlay Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa. Its five scheduled playing days were Tuesday, October 27; Wednesday, October 28; Thursday, October 29; Friday, October 30; and Saturday, October 31, 2026.

The scheduled daily start was 10:30 a.m. South African Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00), equivalent to 08:30 UTC on the same date. Cricket Australia's fixture information also listed 7:30 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11:00). That Australian conversion applies to regions observing AEDT, rather than every Australian state or territory. Cape Town did not change its UTC offset during the match window. These are the scheduled opening times, not the time of the final wicket.

Toss, injury update and confirmed playing XIs

Australia won the toss and chose to field. Steve Smith missed the Test after a neck fitness assessment. Inglis, Green, Cooper Connolly and Lyon returned to Australia's XI, while Gerald Coetzee replaced the injured Anrich Nortje for South Africa. These were the announced teams for this match, as confirmed in Cricket Australia's toss and team report.

South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee.

Australia XI: Matthew Renshaw, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa v Australia Test series results

The teams entered the Newlands decider level at 1–1. South Africa's victory therefore settled the series 2–1, as confirmed in the ICC's final series report. The series formed part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. A bilateral series win and qualification for the WTC final are separate outcomes; this match result should not be presented as confirming a final berth.

Broadcast details, highlights and the completed scorecard

For South African viewers, SuperSport's series announcement listed SuperSport Cricket, DStv Channel 212 and DStv Stream. Cricket Australia listed Fox Cricket and Kayo for Australian coverage. Those were territory-specific broadcast arrangements. With the match complete, replay availability depends on the provider, location and subscription; a live broadcast listing does not guarantee a full replay remains available.

Readers seeking the result, wicket replays or match coverage can use Cricket Australia's match center and its archived third-Test blog. Earlier in-play figures, including South Africa's day-three 140 for 4, describe historical checkpoints. The completed innings totals and official result above are the relevant figures for the finished Test.