TEST

SA vs AUS 3rd Test 2026: Harmer 6/16, South Africa Win 2-1

Published on October 31, 2026

Summary Overview: South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs on the final day at Newlands to win the Test series 2-1. Player of the Match Simon Harmer took 6 for 16 and 10 wickets in the match as Australia, chasing 288, were bowled out for 111. Marco Jansen was Player of the Series.

Who won? South Africa, by 176 runs at Newlands, Cape Town. Chasing 288, Australia were bowled out for 111 in 57.1 overs on the final day.

Who won the series? South Africa, 2-1. Australia won the first Test in Durban, and South Africa won the last two.

Who starred on the final day? Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 6 for 16 from 21.1 overs, including 14 maidens, for 10 wickets in the match, and was named Player of the Match. Kagiso Rabada took 3 for 39, with two wickets in the first over.

Who was Player of the Series? Marco Jansen, with 146 runs and 10 wickets across the three Tests.

Who set it up? Ryan Rickelton (101) and Wiaan Mulder (115) hit centuries in South Africa's second innings, rescuing them from 181 for 5.

The Story: From 1-0 Down to Series Winners

South Africa lost the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. They hit back with an innings win in Gqeberha, and on the final day at Newlands they completed the turnaround in style.

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. Australia needed 288 with a full day to bat, which meant they could also have saved the series by batting out the day for a draw. They managed neither.

The Match Before Day 5

South Africa 329: Marques Ackerman (95) and Aiden Markram (78) put on 158 for the first wicket, but Mitchell Starc took 6 for 72.
Australia 429: Josh Inglis made 102, his second Test century, and Alex Carey added 80 for a first-innings lead of 100. Harmer took 4 for 104, including Inglis.
South Africa 387: from 181 for 5, Rickelton (101) and Mulder (115) added 154 for the sixth wicket. Starc took 3 more for 9 wickets in the match.

Day 5: Rabada Strikes, Then Harmer Takes Over

Two Wickets in the First Over

Rabada made the perfect start. Matt Renshaw was caught behind by Rickelton for a duck on the third ball, and Marnus Labuschagne was lbw for 4 on the sixth. Australia were 5 for 2 after one over.

Rabada then had Travis Head caught by Marco Jansen for 14, and Australia were 22 for 3.

Harmer's Spell

Cameron Green dug in, but Josh Inglis, the first-innings centurion, was run out by Ackerman and Rickelton for 4. Then Harmer took over. He had Alex Carey caught by Jansen and Cooper Connolly caught behind two balls later, and Australia were 42 for 6.

Harmer removed Mitchell Starc, caught by substitute fielder Corbin Bosch after a 25-ball duck, and then bowled Green for 27 off 110 balls. At 62 for 8, Australia were close to defeat.

Cummins and Lyon Fight

Captain Pat Cummins (11 off 90 balls) and Nathan Lyon (33 not out off 57) batted for more than 17 overs, adding 45 and giving Australia a slim hope of saving the match.

Harmer ended it. He trapped Cummins lbw at 107 for 9 and bowled Josh Hazlewood in his next over to finish with 6 for 16 and seal the series.

Turning Point: Rabada's First Over

Australia needed a solid start to have any chance of chasing 288 or batting out the day. Rabada's double strike in the first over, removing two of Australia's top three before they had scored 6, put South Africa in control. Harmer's control did the rest: he conceded just 16 runs in 127 balls.

Stat Corner

Top Performers (Match)

Player	Team	Performance
Simon Harmer	South Africa	10 for 120 in the match (4/104 and 6/16), Player of the Match
Wiaan Mulder	South Africa	115 (221) in the 2nd innings
Ryan Rickelton (wk)	South Africa	101 (219) and 42
Marques Ackerman	South Africa	95 and 62
Kagiso Rabada	South Africa	3 for 39 in the 2nd innings
Mitchell Starc	Australia	9 for 137 in the match (6/72 and 3/65)
Josh Inglis	Australia	102 in the 1st innings
Alex Carey (wk)	Australia	80 in the 1st innings
Nathan Lyon	Australia	33* (57) on Day 5, and 4 wickets in the match

* not out

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. Inglis 102, Carey 80; Harmer 4/104
South Africa 2nd innings	387 all out (134.4 overs). Mulder 115, Rickelton 101, Ackerman 62; Starc 3/65
Australia 2nd innings	111 all out (57.1 overs). Lyon 33*, Green 27; Harmer 6/16, Rabada 3/39

Result: South Africa won by 176 runs. Player of the Match: Simon Harmer. Series: South Africa won 2-1.

How Day 5 Turned

Moment	Score
Rabada's first over	Australia 5 for 2 (1 over)
Head out	22 for 3 (6.6 overs)
Three wickets for 2 runs	40 for 3 to 42 for 6
Green bowled by Harmer	62 for 8 (38.1 overs)
Cummins and Lyon stand	45 off 104 balls for the 9th wicket
Australia all out	111 (57.1 overs)

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 Results

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	South Africa won by 176 runs

Final series score: South Africa 2, Australia 1.

Player of the Series: Marco Jansen

Marco Jansen was named Player of the Series for 146 runs and 10 wickets across the three Tests. His biggest contribution came in Gqeberha, where he made 85 and took 5 for 33 in Australia's first innings to help level the series. At Newlands he hit 52 in the first innings and held key catches on the final day, including Travis Head and Alex Carey.