Rickelton and Mulder centuries lead South Africa fightback and set Australia 288 chase

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Centuries by Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder lifted South Africa back into series contention against Australia on a day of batting domination in the deciding Newlands cricket test on Friday.

South Africa began day four only 40 runs ahead and four wickets down. But a compelling fightback led by wicketkeeper Rickelton, 101 off 219 balls, and allrounder Mulder, 115 off 221 balls, earned them a lead of 287.

Mulder’s dismissal in the day’s last over ended South Africa’s second innings at 387, setting Australia the entire fifth day to score 288 to win the three-test series which is tied at 1-1.

Australia has the record at Newlands for the highest successful fourth innings chase: 331 in 2002.

But world champion South Africa has the advantage of an increasingly turning last-day pitch and an attack featuring rested and in-form off-spinner Simon Harmer.

South Africa scored 329 in its first innings and Australia replied with 429, taking a 100-run lead. The host ended day three at 140-4 and scored 247-6 through Friday’s three sessions.

Rickelton and Mulder batted together for nearly 54 overs, scoring 154 runs for the sixth wicket. They frustrated Australia into trying eight bowlers during the day.

Two gritty tons

Rickelton began the day with Matthew Breetzke, who was the only batter to be dismissed in the morning session — caught at fine leg off Pat Cummins, who ended a wicket drought of more than 62 overs since the first test in Durban.

South Africa crawled to 202-5 at lunch but Rickelton and Mulder then batted out the second session, scoring 92 runs while also blunting the second new ball. Rickelton reached 50 off 105 balls and Mulder was unbeaten on 46 at tea. Their 100-run stand came off 193 balls.

Australia kept squeezing, conceding only 13 runs in the 10 overs after tea. But South Africa crossed 300 and Rickelton scored his third test hundred off 219 balls. He hit 12 boundaries overall.

It was the first century by a South Africa batter at No. 6 in the third or fourth innings of a test since 2022.

The partnership was broken at 335-6 by Mulder, who ran out Rickelton. Mulder was watching the ball roll to backward point and sent back non-striker Rickelton too late to beat the throw.

Four wickets fell for 16 runs, including a second run out, of Gerald Coetzee, who was turned around by Mulder too late.

South Africa was nine down and Mulder on 83. He accelerated. His first 50 came off 138 balls, the second 50 off 66. He reached his fourth test hundred off 204 balls in the final minutes of play on day four. In all, Mulder hit 10 fours and four sixes.

Mulder was finally caught in the deep pulling Cummins and was applauded all the way to the boundary.

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc took 3-65 and a match haul of nine wickets.

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