South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs at Newlands in Cape Town on October 31 to win their three-match Test series 2–1. The International Cricket Council said the result also lifted the hosts above Australia to No. 1 in the men’s Test team rankings, adding a global milestone to the home victory.
Australia needed 288 to win but were dismissed for 111 on the fifth day. According to Cricket World’s match report, off-spinner Simon Harmer took six wickets for 16 runs, while fast bowler Kagiso Rabada helped dismantle the tourists’ batting. Their combined pressure settled a match that Australia had earlier controlled.
The scorecard records South Africa’s first innings of 329 and Australia’s reply of 429, a lead of 100. The hosts then made 387 in their second innings to set the decisive target. Wiaan Mulder scored 115 and Ryan Rickelton 101, turning a difficult position into an opportunity for the bowlers to secure victory.
TimesLIVE reported that Rickelton and Mulder shared a 154-run partnership after South Africa had lost five second-innings wickets with a lead of only about 80. That recovery proved central to the outcome. Australia’s chase ended after 57.1 overs on Saturday afternoon, leaving the visitors well short of the target.
The series itself followed a similar turnaround. Sky Sports reported that Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa levelled in Gqeberha with victory by an innings and 31 runs. Success in Cape Town therefore completed two consecutive wins after the hosts’ initial defeat.
The ICC said the result also pushed Australia from first to second in the 2025–27 World Test Championship standings. Those standings are separate from the Test team rankings. With the series complete, the changed positions become part of the wider championship contest, while South Africa leave Newlands with both the series and the top Test ranking.
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