Rickelton 101, Mulder 115: South Africa set Australia 288 to win series decider at Newlands
South Africa went from effectively 40-4 to 387 all out at Newlands. Australia need 288 on Saturday to win the series, tied 1-1, on a turning pitch.
At a glance
- South Africa were all out for 387 in the last over of day four of the third Test in Cape Town on Friday, October 30, 2026, leaving Australia 288 to win on Saturday.
- Wiaan Mulder made 115 and Ryan Rickelton 101, adding 154 for the sixth wicket after South Africa began the day effectively 40-4.
- Australia would need the second-highest successful chase in 137 years of Test cricket at Newlands. The series is level at 1-1.
Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder hit centuries on Friday, October 30, 2026, to pull South Africa out of trouble and set Australia 288 to win the deciding third Test at Newlands. South Africa were bowled out for 387 in the last over of the fourth day, so the series, tied at 1-1, will be settled on Saturday. Australia would have to complete the second-highest successful chase in 137 years of Test cricket at the ground.
The morning looked very different. South Africa resumed on 140-4, but after a 100-run first-innings deficit Rickelton described that as being "effectively 40 for four".
How one wicket fell in five hours
Australia's attack, which began the day with 1,674 Test wickets between its four main bowlers, got almost nothing for most of it. Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke played the first session with patience, adding 62 runs, and it took a pull shot to the deep to remove Breetzke for 43 around lunch. That wicket ended a run of 372 balls without success for Pat Cummins, the longest of his career.
Then came Mulder. He and Rickelton added 154 for the sixth wicket, taking few risks against Nathan Lyon's turn and the short ball from the seamers. Rickelton, better known as a fast-scoring T20 batter, reached 101 before he was run out shortly before the afternoon drinks break.
That sparked the one Australian burst of the day, with four wickets falling for 16. Kagiso Rabada stayed with Mulder through a last-wicket stand of 36, in which Mulder reached his fourth Test century. He was the last man out for 115, caught on the boundary by Mitchell Starc off Cummins.
| South Africa second innings | |
|---|---|
| Total | 387 all out |
| Wiaan Mulder | 115 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 101 (run out) |
| Matthew Breetzke | 43 |
| Sixth-wicket stand | 154 |
| Last-wicket stand | 36 |
| Pat Cummins | 2-71 |
| Nathan Lyon | 2-101 |
| Australia's target | 288 |
Rickelton and Mulder went to the same school, St Stithians College north of Johannesburg, as did Rabada. "We have played a lot of cricket coming through the teenage years together and we know each other's games really well," Rickelton said.
What Australia face on Saturday
The sum asks for a little over three runs an over across a full day, against a home attack that has had more than a day and a half with its feet up. Australian batter Josh Inglis said on Thursday that chasing anything over 200 would be hard batting last. Lyon found considerable turn from the footmarks and the seamers got uneven bounce, though Australia's bowling coach James Franklin said the pitch had not worn badly for fast bowlers.
"For them to bat out three sessions will be a big ask but we will also have our work cut out," Rickelton said. Franklin's view was simpler: it is set up for a great last day.
A series of sharp swings
Each side has already won big in this series, which makes Saturday's result hard to call.
| Test | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First | Durban | Australia won by 214 runs |
| Second | Gqeberha | South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs |
| Third | Cape Town | Australia need 288 on day five |
Play on the final day starts on Saturday morning in Cape Town, early afternoon in Pakistan. South Africa need all 10 wickets. Australia need 288 for a series win, or a full day of survival for a drawn series.
