South Africa's Simon Harmer recorded career-best figures of six for 16 as the hosts defeated Australia by 176 runs at Newlands on Saturday, according to The Guardian, completing a 2-1 series victory in the three-match contest. The result returns South Africa to the top of the ICC Test rankings and lifts them above Australia into the top two of the race for next year's World Test Championship final.
Australia's pursuit unravelled almost immediately on the final day. Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne both fell inside the opening over, and the tourists were unable to steady themselves from there.
Why it matters
The win settles a hard-fought series and carries consequences beyond the scoreline. The Guardian reports that South Africa have taken first place from Australia in the ICC Test rankings, while also moving ahead of them in the World Test Championship standings with a place in the final at stake. For Australia, the manner of the defeat — a batting order dismantled by a finger spinner on a final-day surface — will raise questions as the team looks ahead to its next assignments.
A collapse that began in the first over
Pat Cummins resisted for 90 balls and Nathan Lyon finished unbeaten on 33 as Australia tried to bat out the day for a draw, but the lower order could not hold out long enough. Harmer ended the match by bowling Josh Hazlewood shortly before tea.
The innings was punctuated by a passage of play that captured the disarray. Cameron Green pushed a ball past Marques Ackerman at silly point and set off for a run, only to leave Josh Inglis short of his ground and run out.
Harmer struck twice in a single over as the innings folded. Alex Carey was dismissed attempting a reverse sweep, and Cooper Connolly was caught behind without scoring. Australia's tailenders then tried to keep Green away from Harmer's bowling, a plan that failed when the spinner changed ends and bowled the right-hander to leave the score at 62 for eight.
Among Australia's top eight, only Travis Head, with 14, and Green, with 27, passed double figures. The Guardian notes that Australia at least avoided being bowled out for fewer than 100 twice in the same series for the first time since 1936-37.
What to watch
South Africa will look to build on their return to the top of the Test table, while Australia face a review of a batting effort that gave way on the final day at Newlands.
