South Africa vs Australia Test Series: Hosts Seal 2–1 Win

Updated November 1, 2026, with the completed October 31 result. South Africa won the third Test against Australia at Newlands by 176 runs, clinching the three-match series 2–1. Australia were dismissed for 111 while chasing 288 on the fifth day. Cricket Australia's final-day report confirms the victory, replacing the earlier day-three position with a completed match result.

The hosts recovered from a 100-run first-innings deficit before Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada dismantled Australia's chase. The ICC's October 31 match report independently confirms the series outcome and South Africa's move to No. 1 in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings.

Third Test final result and innings scores

The official ICC scorecard records all four completed innings:

Australia's target was 288: South Africa's second-innings 387 erased the visitors' 100-run lead and established a 287-run advantage. Australia's final 111 left them 176 runs short of South Africa's aggregate.

How the Newlands match unfolded

Day one: South Africa make 329

South Africa's strong opening platform did not develop into a commanding first-innings total. Marques Ackerman scored 95, Aiden Markram made 78 and David Bedingham contributed 50, but Australia fought back to dismiss the hosts for 329. Mitchell Starc took 6/72, leading the recovery after South Africa had reached 203/1. Sky Sports' opening-day report confirms those contributions and the late change in momentum.

Days two and three: Australia build a 100-run lead

Australia's reply reached 429, with Josh Inglis making 102 and Alex Carey adding 80. Those innings gave the visitors a 100-run advantage and put pressure on South Africa's second innings. Ackerman responded with 62, but Starc dismissed him and Nathan Lyon removed Temba Bavuma late on the third day. South Africa finished October 29 at 140/4, leading by only 40 runs with six wickets remaining.

That was the position recorded in the previous version of this article. Cricket Australia's dated day-three report explains the narrow advantage; the subsequent fourth and fifth days determined the final outcome.

Day four: Rickelton and Mulder change the match

Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder produced the partnership South Africa needed. Rickelton scored 101 and Mulder made 115, their 154-run stand helping lift the hosts to 387. Rickelton's innings ended in a run-out involving an athletic stop and throw from Inglis, while Mulder continued into the closing stages.

Starc took 3/65, but South Africa's lower order added enough to establish a substantial fourth-innings challenge. As Cricket Australia's October 30 report recorded, Australia were left needing 288 on the final day.

Day five: Harmer and Rabada finish the job

Rabada removed Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in his opening over, then dismissed Travis Head to leave Australia 22/3. Inglis was run out before Harmer took control. The off-spinner finished with 6/16 from 21.1 overs, while Rabada returned 3/39.

Nathan Lyon's unbeaten 33 was Australia's highest score in the chase. Cameron Green made 27 and Pat Cummins resisted for 90 balls, scoring 11, but Australia were all out for 111 before tea. Harmer finished with match figures of 10/120. The official final-day account details the collapse and South Africa's decisive bowling performance.

When and where was the third Test played?

The match took place at Newlands in Cape Town across the five scheduled playing dates: October 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, 2026. The ICC's official schedule announcement identifies the ground as World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground.

The advertised daily start was 10:30 a.m. in Cape Town, South African Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00), equivalent to 08:30 UTC on the same date. South Africa does not observe daylight saving time. In Sydney and Melbourne, the corresponding start was 7:30 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11:00), also on the same date.

Cricket Australia's third-Test guide published this session timetable:

These were scheduled session times, subject to playing conditions, with an additional 30 minutes available to complete overs when light and weather permitted. The match has now finished, so the timetable is retained as a reference for the completed fixture.

Confirmed toss, playing XIs and team changes

Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl. Steve Smith missed the match after failing a fitness test on his neck. Inglis, Green, Cooper Connolly and Lyon returned to Australia's XI, while South Africa selected Gerald Coetzee for the injured Anrich Nortje. Cricket Australia's October 27 toss and selection report confirms the following playing teams.

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.

Final South Africa vs Australia Test series results

The teams entered the Newlands decider level at 1–1. South Africa's victory completed a comeback from defeat in Durban and settled the series 2–1. The fixtures formed part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. The ICC's completed-series report also recorded Australia dropping to third in the WTC standings at the time of the result; that table is separate from the Test team rankings.

Broadcast coverage, highlights and the official scorecard

For viewers in Australia, the official broadcast guide listed Kayo and Fox Cricket for television and streaming coverage, with ABC and SEN providing radio coverage. Those listings applied to Australia; viewing rights in other countries depend on the local broadcaster.

With play completed, consult the Cricket Australia match center, fixture CA:39992, for the scorecard, reports and available highlights. Check the relevant service directly for replay availability. The confirmed final position is South Africa 329 and 387; Australia 429 and 111; South Africa won by 176 runs and took the series 2–1.