Australia have lost the Test series in South Africa 2-1 after collapsing for 111 on the final day in Cape Town, with off-spinner Simon Harmer taking 6-16.
Set 288 to win the decider at Newlands, Australia were bowled out before tea on day five on Saturday (local time) and lost by 176 runs, cricket.com.au reported. The win also lifted South Africa to No.1 in the ICC Test rankings.
Harmer, 37, finished with 6-16 from 21.1 overs and match figures of 10-120, his first 10-wicket haul in Tests, AP reported. Kagiso Rabada took 3-39.
Rabada strikes early
Matt Renshaw was caught behind down the leg side off Rabada from the third ball of the chase, and Marnus Labuschagne was lbw to the last ball of the same over after leaving a ball that nipped back, with his review unsuccessful.
Travis Head was then caught at gully off Rabada, and Josh Inglis was run out after a mix-up with Cameron Green. Harmer removed Alex Carey and Cooper Connolly in three balls, and Australia were 6-42 before midday, according to cricket.com.au.
Read more: Australia Set 288 to Win Cape Town Test as Mulder, Rickelton Hit Tons
Harmer finishes the job
Mitchell Starc fell to a bat-pad catch off Harmer from the last ball before lunch. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon then batted together for a long stretch as Australia tried to save the match, before Harmer trapped Cummins lbw and bowled Josh Hazlewood. Harmer also bowled Green, who made 27 from 110 balls.
Lyon top-scored with 33 not out. No other Australian passed 15 apart from Green.
It is Australia’s first Test series defeat since early 2023, Fox Sports reported, and cricket.com.au noted it was the first time in three and a half years that they had lost consecutive Tests.
Read more: Steve Smith Neck Injury Confirmed, Out Until New Zealand Tests
How the series was lost
Australia won the first Test by 214 runs, but South Africa levelled the series with an innings-and-31-run win in Gqeberha, where Australia were bowled out for 99.
In Cape Town, Australia took a 100-run first-innings lead after Inglis made a century, but centuries to Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder on day four set up the chase. South African all-rounder Marco Jansen was named player of the series.
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