South Africa looked shaky at Newlands on Friday. Then Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder changed the game. Both scored centuries on day four, and the Proteas were bowled out for 387. That leaves Australia needing 288 runs to win the third Test in Cape Town. It is not an easy target on a tired pitch, and it is not a simple task for any batting side with a series on the line. The series is level, so the final day will settle it.
How the fourth morning began
South Africa resumed on 140 for 4. They led by just 40 runs after Australia had made 429 in their first innings. Matthew Breetzke and Rickelton were at the crease, and the Proteas needed them to last.
They did. The pair put on another 41 runs in the early session. It was slow, patient batting. Australia kept asking questions, and the two batters kept answering them with a straight bat.
Breetzke fell for 43 off 121 balls, with South Africa on 181 for 5. Pat Cummins was the bowler who made the breakthrough. It was a big wicket, because Breetzke had done the hard work of seeing off the new ball and the early pressure. His innings was not flashy, but it kept the Proteas in the contest.
At that point, Australia must have felt they were close to wrapping things up. A quick finish would have left them chasing a small total. That did not happen.
The partnership that changed the Test
Wiaan Mulder walked in at 181 for 5 and joined Rickelton. What followed was the turning point of the match.
The first goal was simple. They had to soak up pressure and leave the good balls alone. Rickelton reached his 50 off 105 balls. The stand passed 50 from 88 balls, then 100 from 193. It was not a rush of runs. It was a slow squeeze, and the Australian bowlers slowly lost their edge.
Then the scoring rate began to lift. Both batters gained confidence and picked off loose deliveries. By tea, South Africa were 294 for 5. Rickelton was on 83 and Mulder on 46. The lead was growing, and it was starting to look like a real total.
After the break, Mulder reached his half century off 138 balls. The partnership went past 150. Soon after, Rickelton brought up his hundred off 218 balls. It was a calm, controlled innings from a man who knows this ground well. In January 2025, he made 259 at Newlands against Pakistan, so the venue clearly suits him.
Rickelton run out, and a brief wobble
Rickelton’s day ended in a sad way. He was run out for 101 after facing 219 balls, with South Africa on 335 for 6. The partnership was worth 154 runs. It was a poor way to lose such a valuable wicket, but his job was done.
What came next worried South African fans. Marco Jansen was out for a duck just eight balls later. Simon Harmer followed for 1. In a short burst, South Africa had slipped to 344 for 8.
Australia could smell a chance. If they cleaned up the tail quickly, the target would stay small and easy to chase. Many teams would have folded at that point.
Mulder refuses to let it slip
Mulder had other ideas. He stayed calm and farmed the strike where he could. He reached his century off 204 balls, which was a fine achievement given the pressure around him. He finished with 115 from 221 deliveries, the highest score of the innings.
He also got help from the lower order. Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada played their part and nudged South Africa towards 350. Every run mattered. Those extra runs may prove to be the difference between a target that feels comfortable and one that feels heavy.
Mulder was finally caught by Mitchell Starc off the bowling of Cummins. That was the last wicket. South Africa were all out for 387 in 134.4 overs, and Rabada was unbeaten on 2.
For a player who was part of the 2025 World Test Championship winning squad, this was another proud moment. It showed again how valuable a genuine all rounder can be in a Test match.
How Australia’s bowlers shared the work
Australia’s attack kept at it all day, even when the pitch gave little help for long spells. Mitchell Starc took three wickets. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took two each.
Cummins held the key to two big moments. He removed Breetzke before the partnership began, and he finished the innings by dismissing Mulder. Starc’s catch at the end was a neat way to wrap things up.
Still, the numbers tell a story. A stand of 154 for the sixth wicket is hard to stop, and it left Australia with a lot of work to do.
Key numbers at a glance
This simple table makes the day easy to follow.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| South Africa second innings | 387 all out in 134.4 overs |
| Target for Australia | 288 runs |
| Ryan Rickelton | 101 off 219 balls (run out) |
| Wiaan Mulder | 115 off 221 balls |
| Matthew Breetzke | 43 off 121 balls |
| Sixth wicket partnership | 154 runs |
| Mitchell Starc | 3 wickets |
| Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon | 2 wickets each |
| Australia first innings | 429 |
What the final day looks like
Australia now face a stern test. A target of 288 sounds reachable on paper. But Newlands has a way of changing the mood of a game very quickly, and fourth innings batting here is rarely comfortable.
The pitch is wearing. Local reports before the final day highlighted that Harmer hoped to do “something spectacular” on a deteriorating surface. Spin could play a big role, and that is good news for the home side. Harmer already took two key wickets on day three, when he removed Josh Inglis and Alex Carey.
South Africa also have pace options. Marco Jansen crossed the landmark of 100 Test wickets earlier in this match. Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee can bring real heat with the ball if the Australians start slowly.
For Australia, the plan is clear. They need a solid opening stand and one or two big partnerships. If they get that start, the chase becomes simple. If they lose early wickets, the pressure could build fast.
Either way, expect a tense day. The fight between bat and ball has been close all week, and this match has swung more than once.
Why this result matters for the series
The series is level, so this Test carries a lot of weight. A win for South Africa would give them a famous home series victory. A win for Australia would send them home with the trophy.
That is why this contest has drawn so much attention across the country. For many fans, the sa vs australia rivalry is one of the most exciting in world cricket. It always brings big crowds, big moments and big emotions.
If you want to keep up with the action, you can check the proteas vs australia live score on the final morning. Official match information and news are also available on the Cricket South Africa website, and you can follow wider fixtures and rankings on the ICC website.
Final thoughts
South Africa began the day in a tough spot. They ended it with a real chance to win a Test and a series. That turnaround came from patience, nerve and good partnership batting.
Ryan Rickelton gave the innings its foundation. Wiaan Mulder gave it its finish. Matthew Breetzke deserves credit too, because his long, tough knock helped steady the early session.
Now it is up to the bowlers. Gerald Coetzee, Rabada, Jansen and Harmer must turn a good batting day into a famous win. Australia, led by Cummins and backed by Starc and Lyon, will not give anything away.
It is a simple question with a hard answer. Can Australia chase 288 at Newlands, or will the Proteas hold their nerve? The final day will tell.
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