Rickelton, Mulder tons leave Australia 288 to win at Newlands

Ryan Rickelton made 101 off 219 balls and Wiaan Mulder 115 off 221, and their 154-run sixth-wicket stand lifted South Africa from 181/5 to 387 in the second innings of the third Test at Newlands, Cape Town. Australia need 288 to win the match, and the Test decides the series.

Australia’s first innings of 429 had given them a 100-run lead over South Africa’s 329, so the hosts needed the rescue to stay in the contest.

The recovery

Among Australia’s bowlers in South Africa’s second innings, Mitchell Starc finished with 3-61 from 22 overs, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took two wickets each.

Rickelton, 30, also reached 1,000 Test runs during the match, in his 18th Test, ABC reports.

What is at stake

The match is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27. ABC notes that a successful chase would be the second-highest ever at Newlands, behind the 334 made by the 2002 Australian side.

The two sides have already traded Test wins on this tour. Australia won the earlier Test by 214 runs on 9 October, and South Africa replied with victory by an innings and 31 runs on 18 October.

What’s next

Australia’s next fixture after this tour is the first match of their white-ball series against England on Friday, 13 November, at 9:00 AM IST. South Africa’s next fixture is the first of their Bangladesh matches on Sunday, 15 November, at 1:00 PM IST.