South Africa have given themselves a genuine chance of winning the Test series against Australia after centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder transformed a precarious position into a match-defining lead at Newlands.
The hosts were bowled out for 387 in the final over of the fourth day, leaving Australia with a target of 288 runs for victory in the series decider. The three-Test contest is locked at 1-1, placing the entire result on a final day in which South Africa must take 10 wickets while Australia must survive three sessions or complete the chase.
A partnership built under pressure
South Africa began the day on 140 for four. With Australia having established a first-innings advantage of 100 runs, that overnight score effectively left the home side at 40 for four in the match. The margin for error was thin, and the early exchanges demanded patience rather than bravado.
Matthew Breetzke contributed 43 as he helped Rickelton absorb the initial pressure. Mulder then joined his former schoolmate, and the pair added 154 runs for the sixth wicket. Their stand changed the mood around the ground and placed Australia’s bowlers under sustained pressure.
“It was about spending time at the wicket and not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We knew that the longer we batted the more frustrated the Australians would get.”
Rickelton eventually reached 101 before being run out shortly before the afternoon drinks break. His dismissal opened the door to another South African wobble, with four wickets falling for only 16 runs. Once again, a promising position appeared to be slipping away in a match that has repeatedly swung from one side to the other.
Mulder carries the fight to the finish
Mulder held his nerve through the collapse and completed his century during a last-wicket stand worth 36 runs with Kagiso Rabada. The partnership was valuable not only for the runs it added, but for the way it pushed the target beyond the reach of a modest chase and gave South Africa something to defend on the final morning.
Rickelton and Mulder both attended St Stithians College north of Johannesburg, and their shared history added a personal thread to a partnership of major consequence. Rickelton said the moment was special after the pair had played together through their teenage years and developed a strong understanding of each other’s games.
Rabada is also a St Stithians old boy, making the late contribution another link between the school and a crucial passage in the Test. Yet the significance of the innings extends well beyond that connection: South Africa were in serious trouble when the day began, and their middle and lower order managed to put Australia under pressure instead.
The final-day equation
The match situation is finely balanced, despite South Africa’s improved position. Australia have a substantial target, but the Newlands pitch has not deteriorated markedly, particularly for the fast bowlers, according to Australian bowling coach James Franklin. He said there had been some assistance for the spinners and described the contest as being set up for an absorbing final day.
| Match detail | Position |
|---|---|
| Series score | 1-1 |
| South Africa’s second-innings total | 387 |
| Target for Australia | 288 |
| Key sixth-wicket stand | 154 runs |
For South Africa, the task is clear but demanding. The attack must remove Australia’s batting line-up before the target is reached, while the visitors need only combine patience with enough scoring to keep the pressure moving back towards the hosts. Rickelton acknowledged that Australia batting through three sessions would be a major challenge, but also said South Africa would have their own work to do.
- South Africa lead Australia by 287 runs with the visitors set 288 to win.
- Rickelton made 101 and Mulder scored 115.
- The decisive final day will determine a series currently level at 1-1.
After the collapses, recoveries and sharp changes in momentum that have shaped the series, Newlands now has the contest it promised: Australia chasing a difficult total and South Africa seeking the wickets that would turn a hard-earned recovery into a series victory.
