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. 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
The Proteas rallied from 1-0 down in the first test series between the teams in South Africa since the ” Sandpapergate ” scandal in 2018.
The biggest thing was to get the win today,” Harmer said. It has been a tough few weeks, but today was a lot of fun. “It was about dealing with the expectation (in the fourth innings). “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. Rabada got in-form Matt Renshaw out for a golden duck, caught behind down leg side. “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.”
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.
“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.
With the victory, South Africa dethroned Australia for the top spot in the ICC test team rankings. Harmer was named player of the match for his 10-wicket haul — the first for a South African spinner against Australia since 1952.
