South Africans celebrate the wicket of Australia’s Matt Renshaw on day five of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo)

South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs in the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday to win the three-match series 2-1. Off-spinner Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-16, while Kagiso Rabada became the fastest bowler by balls bowled to reach 350 Test wickets.Chasing a target of 288, Australia were bowled out for 111 in the second session on the final day. The result also took South Africa above Australia to the top of the Test world rankings for the first time since January 2016.The Proteas rallied from 1-0 down in the first test series between the teams in South Africa since the ” Sandpapergate ” scandal in 2018. Australia had won the first test in Durban by 214 runs, and South Africa won the second test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs.Australia’s hopes of completing the chase suffered an early setback as they lost two wickets in the first over. Rabada struck with the new ball, removing the top three batters to leave the visitors struggling at 62/8. Harmer then took charge, claiming all of the last six wickets to finish with figures of 6-16 in 21.1 overs. He ended the match with 10 wickets for 120 runs, his first 10-wicket haul in Test cricket.Rabada finished with 3-39 in the second innings and reached the 350-wicket mark in 13,808 deliveries. He became the fastest bowler to achieve the milestone by balls bowled, going past South Africa’s Dale Steyn (14,719) and Pakistan’s Waqar Younis (14,905).Rabada dismissed opener Matt Renshaw for a duck, with wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton taking the catch down the leg side. He then trapped Marnus Labuschagne (4) leg before wicket in the same over before Marco Jansen caught Travis Head at gully to leave Australia in trouble.First-innings centurion Josh Inglis was run out for four while attempting a quick single, adding to Australia’s problems. Harmer then took the remaining wickets.Nathan Lyon was top scorer for Australia and remained unbeaten on 33. He and captain Pat Cummins, who scored 11 off 90 balls, added 45 runs for the ninth wicket, the highest partnership of the innings. The stand lasted 17.2 overs before Harmer dismissed Cummins leg before wicket and bowled Josh Hazlewood to seal the win.

The partnership also helped Australia avoid being bowled out for less than 100 in consecutive Tests, something that had last happened during the 1936-37 Ashes. Cameron Green was the only batter among Australia’s top eight to face at least 30 deliveries, scoring 27 off 110 balls.The defeat is likely to raise questions about Australia’s batting and their decision to bowl on the first day morning, which left them chasing a target in the fourth innings on a wearing pitch.The victory also keeps South Africa’s hopes of defending their World Test Championship title alive. They had beaten Australia in the previous WTC final at Lord’s in 2025.