Sport: Cricket Country: Australia Category: Scores & Results

South Africa posts 387, sets Australia 288 to win Test in Cape Town

BBC Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 30, 2026, 5:03 PM

Last updated Oct 30, 2026

South Africa posts 387, sets Australia 288 to win Test in Cape Town

Summary

South Africa concluded day four of the third Test against Australia in Cape Town, batting through to score 387. This sets Australia a target of 288 runs to clinch the match. Key contributions came from Wiaan Mulder, who scored 115, and Ryan Rickelton with 101. Having started the day precariously at 40-4, South Africa's resilience allowed them to pivot towards a potential series victory. With Australia needing to chase down the target on the final day, historical data suggests a challenging endeavor, as the target exceeds typical fourth-innings successes at Newlands.

Source Links

BBC Sport

By the Numbers

•South Africa 329 & 387; Australia 429 in first innings
•Mulder and Rickelton both score centuries
•Pitch conditions are expected to become more challenging
•Australia needs 288 runs to win on day five
•Current series implications affect ICC Test rankings

Latest Updates

5:03 PMBBC Sport — South Africa-Australia set for classic finale – what does history suggest could happen?

What they're saying

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South Africa set up an epic final day of their decisive Test against Australia by batting throughout the fourth day. What does history suggest could happen?
— BBC Sport

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