Mulder, Rickelton Centuries Put South Africa in Sight of Series Win
Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton hit centuries to set Australia a target of 288 runs on Day 4 of the third Test at Newlands.
A heroic fightback powered by centuries from Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton has put South Africa in a commanding position on Day 4 of the third Test against Australia. After struggling early in the match, the hosts managed a remarkable recovery at Newlands, bowling out Australia's hopes of an easy victory by setting them a challenging target of 288 runs for the win.
A Massive Recovery from the Brink
South Africa's journey to this position was far from easy. Having conceded a 100-run lead after the first innings, the hosts found themselves in a precarious spot. They resumed Day 4 at 140/4, holding a slim lead of 40 runs, with the game hanging in the balance.
While Matthew Breetzke provided some early stability with a gritty 43 before top-edging a pull shot off Pat Cummins, the real turning point came when Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton joined forces. Coming together with the score at 181/5, the duo stitched together a massive 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket, completely shifting the momentum of the match.
Centuries of Resilience
Ryan Rickelton played a composed knock, scoring 101 off 219 balls. He looked particularly dominant through the off side, anchoring the innings and putting the Australian bowlers under pressure. However, his century ended in a moment of chaos; a mix-up with Mulder led to a run-out after Josh Inglis fielded sharply at backward point and threw to Marnus Labuschagne.
Wiaan Mulder, meanwhile, played the role of the aggressor and the anchor. He reached his half-century after 138 deliveries and eventually notched his fourth Test century with a crisp boundary through the covers off Nathan Lyon. Mulder finished with 115 runs off 221 balls, ensuring South Africa pushed their lead toward the 300-run mark.
The Final Push and Australian Struggle
The Australian bowling attack tried everything to break the Mulder-Rickelton stand, utilizing eight different bowlers, but the pair remained disciplined. After Rickelton's departure, Marco Jansen fell for a duck to a short ball from Mitchell Starc, sparking a brief lower-order collapse.
Despite the wickets falling, Mulder continued to fight, adding a valuable 36 runs with Kagiso Rabada for the final wicket. Mulder was eventually dismissed by Pat Cummins, holing out just three balls before the close of the day. South Africa ended their second innings at 387.
Bowling Performance
- Mitchell Starc: The most successful bowler for Australia with figures of 3/65.
- Nathan Lyon: Claimed two wickets during the innings.
The Final Showdown
Australia now faces a daunting task on the final day. Having scored 429 in their first innings (compared to South Africa's 329), they must now chase 288 runs to win the Test and secure the series. South Africa, on the other hand, needs only 10 wickets to claim victory.
With the Newlands surface expected to offer more turn on the final day, South Africa will look to their spinners, particularly Simon Harmer, to dismantle the Australian batting lineup. With all three results still on the table, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion.