Harmer shines as South Africa wins 3rd cricket test against Australia to claim series 2-1

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Simon Harmer picked a career-best 6-16 as South Africa bowled out Australia for 111 to win the third test by 176 runs and clinch the three-match series 2-1 on Saturday.

Australia crumbled in Cape Town after being set 288 to win on Day 5 of the deciding match of the series.

The Proteas rallied from 1-0 down in the first test series between the teams in South Africa since the ” Sandpapergate ” scandal in 2018.

Harmer, a 37-year-old offspinner, finished with match figures of 10-120 — his first 10-wicket haul in tests — after South Africa made 329 and 387 in its two innings, while Australia scored 429 in its first to take a 100-run lead at Newlands

Kagiso Rabada took 3-39 on Saturday to reach 350 career test wickets.

Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton had scored centuries on day four to set up a 288-run target, but Australia collapsed to 60-7 at lunch on Day 5 and was eventually bowled out before tea.

Australia had won the first test in Durban by 214 runs, and South Africa won the second test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs.

With the victory, South Africa dethroned Australia for the top spot in the ICC test team rankings.

It is the first test series loss for Australia since March 2023.

Harmer was named player of the match for his 10-wicket haul — the first for a South African spinner against Australia since 1952.

“It was about dealing with the expectation (in the fourth innings). The biggest thing was to get the win today,” Harmer said. “We were in the game with the way KG (Rabada) bowled this morning. As a spinner, on a turning wicket, that’s what dreams are made of. It has been a tough few weeks, but today was a lot of fun.”

Australia suffered a harrowing morning session against both pace and spin. Rabada took 3-14 in five overs, while Harmer picked 3-5 in eight overs.

Rabada got in-form Matt Renshaw out for a golden duck, caught behind down leg side.

Three balls later, Rabada struck for a second time as Marnus Labuschagne (4) was out lbw shouldering arms. Australia was 5-2 after the first over.

Travis Head hit 14 and was next out, caught at gully off Rabada in the seventh over, with the score reading 22-3. It was Rabada’s 350th test dismissal and he became the quickest to reach the milestone ahead of compatriot Dale Steyn.

First innings’ centurion Josh Inglis (4) was run out going for a non-existent run at Cameron Green’s call.

Australia’s second innings was in complete disarray as Harmer had Alex Carey (2) caught at backward point with Marco Jansen taking another good catch. Two balls later, Cooper Connolly was caught behind for a two-ball duck, leaving the visitors 42-6.

Harmer struck again before lunch, with Mitchell Starc caught at short leg as the ball looped up off his pads.

Starc faced 25 balls without opening his account, even as Green was unbeaten on 25 runs off 73 balls at the other end.

After lunch, Cameron Green (27) and Pat Cummins (11) batted 73 balls, before Harmer broke through. The ball turned in from outside off stump to bowl Green, who faced 110 balls with three fours.

Cummins and Nathan Lyon (33 not out) battled for another 104 balls, adding 45 runs for the ninth wicket which took Australia past 100.

Harmer then sealed the win with two wickets in successive overs. He trapped Cummins lbw in the 56th and bowled Josh Hazlewood (0) to kick off celebrations.

He also became the first South African spinner to pick a 10-wicket haul in Cape Town. Australia had last won a test series in South Africa in 2014.

Marco Jansen was named player of the series for scoring 198 runs and taking 13 wickets in three tests.

“It was a very intense series with a lot of pressure, a lot of ebbs and flows, ups and downs, and it feels tiring to be standing here,” he said. “But it was an awesome series to be part of. You have to adapt your game to a certain degree depending on the conditions, so making a different game plan in every venue was key.”

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