South Africa’s long fourth day sets up a tense Test finish

The story

Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder gave South Africa a fighting chance in the Newlands Test decider, scoring centuries on a fourth day that transformed a fragile lead into a target of 288 for Australia. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 387 in the final over, leaving one day to decide a series level at 1–1.

South Africa had begun the day only 40 runs ahead with four wickets down. From that position, setting Australia a substantial chase required a partnership that could survive sustained pressure and still move the match forward. Rickelton and Mulder supplied it.

A partnership that changes the contest

Rickelton made 101 and Mulder 115, adding 154 for the sixth wicket. AFP’s report described a long period in which Australia managed only one wicket across the opening five hours of the day.

The stand changed the choices available to both teams. South Africa moved away from a position in which another quick wicket could expose the lower order with little advantage. Australia had to keep searching for a breakthrough while the target grew.

SuperSport’s account recorded 12 boundaries in Rickelton’s 219-ball innings. Mulder’s century also required a substantial investment of time, arriving from 204 balls. Their contributions were therefore built through occupation as well as scoring, making Australia work deep into the day.

A late collapse keeps Australia interested

Rickelton’s run-out broke the partnership and brought another abrupt change. Four wickets fell for 16 runs, interrupting South Africa’s progress just as the home side appeared to be building a particularly strong position.

That passage gave Australia a route back into the match. A lower target would have reduced the pressure on the final-day chase, and the quick wickets briefly made that outcome possible.

Mulder then found support from Kagiso Rabada in a last-wicket stand worth 36. He reached his hundred during that partnership and added late boundaries before being caught off Pat Cummins in the final over. The last pair’s contribution ensured that the recovery survived the collapse in a meaningful form.

One final day for the series

The target of 288 left both teams with a clear route to victory. Australia needed a complete chase; South Africa needed ten wickets. The drawn series meant the same contest would settle the trophy as well as the Test.

Subsequent update: South Africa completed the job on the fifth day, bowling Australia out for 111 to win by 176 runs and take the series 2–1. Simon Harmer returned 6–16 and Rabada 3–39 in the decisive innings.

That finish gives the fourth-day partnership its full significance. Rickelton and Mulder did not merely improve South Africa’s position; they created the target that the bowlers then defended. What began as a difficult morning became the foundation of a series-winning recovery.