TEST

SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 4: Rickelton, Mulder 100s, AUS Need 288

Published on October 31, 2026

Summary Overview: Ryan Rickelton (101) and Wiaan Mulder (115) added 154 for the sixth wicket as South Africa made 387 in their second innings at Newlands, setting Australia 288 to win the series decider on Day 5. Mitchell Starc has nine wickets in the match.

Where does the match stand? South Africa were bowled out for 387 in their second innings at stumps on Day 4. That gives them a lead of 287, so Australia need 288 to win on the final day.

Who starred? Ryan Rickelton made 101 and Wiaan Mulder 115, adding 154 for the sixth wicket. For Australia, Mitchell Starc took 3 for 65, giving him 9 wickets in the match.

What's at stake? Everything. The series is level at 1-1, so a win for either side on Day 5 wins the series. A draw would share it.

Who are the favourites? It is finely balanced. Australia have a full day and all ten wickets, but chasing on the fifth day is never easy, and Simon Harmer's off-spin could be a big factor on a wearing pitch.

The Story: A Rescue From the Lower Middle Order

Australia made 429 in their first innings, a lead of 100 over South Africa's 329. When South Africa slipped to 181 for 5 in their second innings, only 81 ahead, Australia looked set to win the series.

For readers new to Test cricket: a Test match lasts up to five days, and each team bats twice. The team batting last has to score more than the other side's two innings combined, minus its own first innings. A century (100 runs) is a major milestone, and here two came from the batters at six and seven.

South Africa's Top Order Struggles Again

Starc struck early again, with Travis Head catching Aiden Markram for 1, and Josh Hazlewood removed David Bedingham for 11. Marques Ackerman, who made 95 in the first innings, added 62, but Starc removed him too.

Captain Temba Bavuma battled for 35 off 115 balls before Nathan Lyon bowled him, and Pat Cummins removed Matthew Breetzke for a patient 43 at 181 for 5.

Rickelton and Mulder: 154 for the Sixth Wicket

Then came the rescue. Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder batted for 318 balls together, adding 154 and wearing down an attack that had dominated the first half of the match.

Rickelton reached a superb 101 off 219 balls, with 12 fours, but was run out by Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne soon after reaching three figures. Mulder kept going to 115 off 221 balls, with 10 fours and four sixes.

A Late Collapse, Then the Last Stand

Australia hit back with four wickets for 16 runs. Starc had Marco Jansen caught by Lyon, Lyon bowled Simon Harmer, and Gerald Coetzee was run out by Labuschagne. At 351 for 9, the lead was 251.

Mulder then shielded Kagiso Rabada, who made 2 off 14 balls, and the pair added a valuable 36 for the last wicket before Cummins finally had Mulder caught by Starc, leaving the lead at 287.

Turning Point: The Sixth-Wicket Stand

At 181 for 5, South Africa were only 81 ahead and staring at a series defeat. Rickelton and Mulder's 154-run partnership turned the match back into a genuine contest, and the last-wicket stand of 36 added the runs that could make the difference on Day 5.

Stat Corner

Top Performers (South Africa 2nd Innings)

Player	Team	Performance
Wiaan Mulder	South Africa	115 (221), 10 fours, 4 sixes
Ryan Rickelton (wk)	South Africa	101 (219), 12 fours
Marques Ackerman	South Africa	62 (80), 8 fours
Matthew Breetzke	South Africa	43 (121)
Temba Bavuma (c)	South Africa	35 (115)
Mitchell Starc	Australia	3 for 65 (24 overs), 9 for 137 in the match
Pat Cummins (c)	Australia	2 for 71 (24.4 overs, 5 maidens)
Nathan Lyon	Australia	2 for 101 (44 overs, 10 maidens)
Josh Hazlewood	Australia	1 for 68 (21 overs)

Match Scorecard Summary

Innings	Score
South Africa 1st innings	329 all out (82.3 overs). Ackerman 95, Markram 78; Starc 6/72
Australia 1st innings	429 all out (lead of 100)
South Africa 2nd innings	387 all out (134.4 overs). Mulder 115, Rickelton 101, Ackerman 62; Starc 3/65
Australia 2nd innings	Target: 288

How South Africa's Second Innings Turned

Moment	Score
Early wickets	31 for 2 (7.3 overs)
Ackerman and Bavuma stand	64 for the 3rd wicket
South Africa in trouble	181 for 5, lead 81
Rickelton and Mulder stand	154 off 318 balls for the 6th wicket
Four wickets for 16 runs	335 for 5 to 351 for 9
Mulder and Rabada last-wicket stand	36 off 53 balls
South Africa all out	387, lead 287

Playing XIs

Team	Playing XI
South Africa	Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada
Australia	Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Series So Far

Match	Venue	Result
1st Test	Kingsmead, Durban	Australia won by 214 runs
2nd Test	St George's Park, Gqeberha	South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs
3rd Test	Newlands, Cape Town	Day 5 to come: Australia need 288

Series score: South Africa 1, Australia 1.

Day 5: What to Watch

Day	Date	Local (SAST)	IST	Pakistan	UK	ET	Australia (AEDT)
Day 5	Sat, Oct 31	10:30 AM	2:00 PM	1:30 PM	8:30 AM	4:30 AM	7:30 PM

Local time is South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+2). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). UK times are GMT. ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). AEDT is Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11).

Three possible results:

Australia win by scoring 288, and take the series 2-1.
South Africa win by taking all ten Australian wickets, and take the series 2-1.
Draw if neither happens by the close of Day 5, and the series is shared 1-1.

Key battles: Australia's openers Travis Head and Matt Renshaw against Rabada and Jansen with the new ball, and Simon Harmer's off-spin on a fifth-day pitch, where Lyon bowled 44 overs in the second innings.