South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Day 5: Australia Need 288
Rickelton and Mulder centuries left Australia needing 288 on the final day of the Newlands series decider. Here is the latest score, how days three and four unfolded, the day-five start time and what each result means for the WTC.
- At stumps on day four, about 18:03 SAST (16:03 GMT, 21:33 IST) on October 30, South Africa were all out for 387, setting Australia 288 to win; Australia have not batted yet.
- Day five starts at 10:30 SAST on Saturday, October 31 (08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST): Australia need 288 runs, South Africa need 10 wickets, and the series is level at 1-1.
- The ICC's October 23 WTC table has Australia first (75.00%), New Zealand second (72.22%) and South Africa third (66.67%); a South Africa win would knock Australia off the top.
South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test: Australia need 288 runs to win the series decider at Newlands, Cape Town, after South Africa were bowled out for 387 in the last over of day four, at about 18:03 SAST (16:03 GMT, 21:33 IST) on Friday, October 30, according to the ESPNcricinfo scorecard and the ABC live blog. Day five starts at 10:30 SAST on Saturday, October 31 (08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST, 19:30 AEDT, 04:30 ET), with Australia needing 288 runs, South Africa needing all 10 wickets, and the three-Test series level at 1-1.
This update was written at about 08:00 SAST on October 31, before play resumed. Centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder turned the game on day four, a day after Josh Inglis's hundred had given Australia a 100-run first-innings lead.
SA vs AUS 3rd Test score before day five
- South Africa, 1st innings: 329 all out in 82.3 overs (Marques Ackerman 95, Aiden Markram 78, Marco Jansen 52, David Bedingham 50; Mitchell Starc 6-72)
- Australia, 1st innings: 429 all out in 125.1 overs (Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80, Matt Renshaw 74, Cameron Green 65; Simon Harmer 4-104, Jansen 3-60)
- South Africa, 2nd innings: 387 all out in 134.4 overs (Mulder 115, Rickelton 101, Ackerman 62, Matthew Breetzke 43; Starc 3-65, Pat Cummins 2-71, Nathan Lyon 2-101)
- Target: Australia need 288 to win. South Africa lead by 287, and Australia's second innings has not started.
Starc has nine wickets in the match on the scorecard, 6 for 72 and 3 for 65.
Day three: Inglis century gives Australia a 100-run lead
Australia resumed on Thursday, October 29, on 330 for 4. Inglis, a late call-up for the injured Steve Smith, reached his second Test hundred about 40 minutes into the day with a reverse-swept four off Harmer, then edged Harmer behind three balls later for 102 from 135 balls, cricket.com.au's Louis Cameron reported. That ended a fifth-wicket stand of 185 with Carey, who followed four overs later for 80 from 168 balls, caught at slip by Markram off Harmer, as AFP reported.
From 370 for 5, Australia lost their last five wickets for 59 and were all out for 429 in 125.1 overs, a lead of exactly 100. Harmer finished with 4 for 104 from 37 overs and Jansen with 3 for 60, removing both Renshaw and Green, SABC Sport noted.
South Africa slipped to 31 for 2 as Starc removed Markram for 1 and Josh Hazlewood removed Bedingham for 11. Ackerman hit 62 from 80 balls and added 64 with Temba Bavuma before he gloved a Starc bouncer to Green; cricket.com.au said his late review request was not heard, though replays confirmed the contact. Lyon bowled Bavuma for 35 at 17:56 SAST, and stumps came at 18:05 SAST with South Africa 140 for 4, ahead by 40, according to the timestamps on the ABC's day-three live blog.
Day four: Rickelton and Mulder centuries swing the Test
Breetzke and Rickelton added 50 on Friday morning before Cummins had Breetzke caught at fine leg by Starc for 43, pulling a short ball. It was Cummins's first wicket since the first Test, ending a run of 374 balls, ESPNcricinfo's report said; cricket.com.au counted 373. South Africa were 181 for 5, a lead of 81.
Rickelton and Mulder then batted through two sessions. South Africa reached tea on 294 for 5, SuperSport reported, and the pair added 154 for the sixth wicket, South Africa's second-best sixth-wicket stand against Australia, according to the ICC. Rickelton made 101 from 219 balls with 12 fours, his third Test hundred and his second at Newlands after his 259 against Pakistan. He also passed 1,000 Test runs, per ESPNcricinfo. Inglis ended the stand, stopping Mulder's reverse sweep at backward point and throwing to Labuschagne to run Rickelton out.
A collapse of four wickets for 16 followed. Starc had Jansen caught for a duck, Lyon bowled Harmer as he left a ball that turned back, and a direct hit from Labuschagne ran out Gerald Coetzee. South Africa were 351 for 9, a lead of 251.
Mulder and Kagiso Rabada then added 36 for the last wicket. Mulder reached his hundred from 204 balls and hit three sixes against a spread field late on, before holing out to Starc at long-on off Cummins with the fourth ball of the day's final over. He made 115 from 221 balls with 10 fours and four sixes. ESPNcricinfo, Sky Sports and ANI via The Tribune call it his fourth Test century; cricket.com.au's day-four report counts it as his third.
Australia assistant coach James Franklin called it "a pretty attritional day for us", SuperSport reported.
What Australia need on day five
Australia need 288 with all 10 wickets in hand. The day has three scheduled sessions, 10:30 to 12:30, 13:10 to 15:10 and 15:30 to 17:30 SAST, and play can run up to 30 minutes longer to complete the overs, per the cricket.com.au preview. Sky Sports said that means scoring at more than three runs an over on a worn pitch.
- Newlands history: a successful chase would be the second-highest fourth-innings chase in 62 previous Tests at the ground, BBC Sport's Matthew Henry wrote. The record is Australia's own chase of 331 in 2002. Five other fourth-innings totals above 288 there all ended in defeat or a draw.
- Australia's record: they have not made 288 or more in a fourth innings since chasing 310 at the Wanderers in 2011, on Cummins's Test debut, according to cricket.com.au.
- The model view: CricViz's WinViz rated South Africa's chances at 54% after day four, the BBC reported. That is a model estimate, not a prediction.
- The pitch: Lyon found sharp turn at times, and cricket.com.au said the footmarks left by Starc and Jansen are the biggest threat to Australia's batters, with Harmer bowling last.
Rickelton still called the surface "flat" and a "lovely wicket to bat on", but added that chasing "effectively 290 on a day 5 wicket, psychologically takes it out of you" (SuperSport). Franklin was more guarded: "So day five, let's see what we get," he told cricket.com.au. The ABC said the day is forecast to be a little overcast.
South Africa vs Australia series result and WTC impact
Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs and South Africa levelled in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs, the ICC recapped. Saturday's possible series results:
- Australia win: Australia take the series 2-1.
- South Africa win: South Africa take the series 2-1.
- Draw: the series is shared 1-1.
The winner of this Test also finishes the series on top of the ICC Test team rankings, which Australia currently hold, Sky Sports and the BBC reported.
In the World Test Championship, the latest table the ICC has published is its state of play of October 23, 2026, after Gqeberha. It has Australia first on 75.00% (108 points from 12 Tests), New Zealand second on 72.22% and South Africa third on 66.67% (48 points from six Tests). Bangladesh (55.56%), India (51.52%), England (38.54%), Sri Lanka (33.33%), West Indies (20.83%) and Pakistan (4.63%) follow. The ESPNcricinfo WTC table, checked on October 31, shows the same results and points. The ICC's October 26 preview said a South Africa win would knock Australia off No. 1 in both the standings and the Test rankings.
The ICC awards 12 points for a win and four for a draw and ranks teams by the percentage of points won. GessyMorgan's own calculation from the October 23 table, before any over-rate penalties:
- Australia win: Australia 76.92% and still first; South Africa 57.14% and still third
- Draw: Australia 71.79%, second behind New Zealand; South Africa 61.90%, third
- South Africa win: New Zealand top on 72.22%, South Africa second on 71.43%, Australia third on 69.23%
Steve Smith injury update
Smith was ruled out on the first morning, October 27. Cricket Australia said he "developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha" and that an MRI "confirmed a cervical facet joint injury", the ICC reported on October 29. CA anticipates a full return for the four-Test home series against New Zealand starting in December, and he will not be considered for selection before then. No newer update had been reported by the morning of October 31.
How to watch South Africa vs Australia day five
First ball is at 10:30 SAST on Saturday, October 31 (08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST, 19:30 AEDT, 04:30 ET, 01:30 PT). The scheduled close is 17:30 SAST (15:30 GMT, 21:00 IST, and 02:30 AEDT on Sunday).
- South Africa: free-to-air on SABC 3, the Diamond Fields Advertiser reported, and on SuperSport via DStv, as listed by Wilson's Media
- Australia: Fox Cricket and Kayo only for TV and streaming, plus ABC and SEN radio, per cricket.com.au
- UK: Sky Sports Cricket from 8am, Sky Sports said; Wilson's Media lists Sky Sports Mix for day five, so check the guide
- India: FanCode streaming and Eurosport on TV, according to The Sporting News
- US: Willow TV, per Wilson's Media
For more Test cricket in November, see our Pakistan vs Sri Lanka guide and our Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe guide.
Our take
Based on the reporting, this Test has already swung three times: Starc on day one, Inglis and Carey on days two and three, then Rickelton and Mulder. Both camps say the pitch still plays well, yet Lyon found sharp turn late on, so Harmer's first spell in the footmarks looks pivotal. Early wickets would put South Africa in charge; a solid opening stand would make 288 look gettable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the score in the South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test?
At stumps on day four, about 18:03 SAST (16:03 GMT, 21:33 IST) on October 30, 2026, South Africa had made 329 and 387 against Australia's 429. That leaves Australia needing 288 to win with all 10 wickets in hand. Day five starts at 10:30 SAST on October 31, so check ESPNcricinfo or cricket.com.au for the live score.
What time does day 5 of SA vs AUS start?
Play starts at 10:30 SAST on Saturday, October 31, 2026, which is 08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST, 19:30 AEDT and 04:30 ET. The scheduled close is 17:30 SAST, and play can run up to 30 minutes longer to complete the overs.
What happens if the Newlands Test is drawn?
The three-Test series would finish level at 1-1. By GessyMorgan's calculation from the ICC points system, a draw would also drop Australia to second in the WTC table behind New Zealand, before any over-rate penalties. Rickelton said he expected a result, though he called the pitch flat.
Where are South Africa and Australia in the WTC table?
In the ICC's state of play of October 23, 2026, Australia were first on 75.00%, New Zealand second on 72.22% and South Africa third on 66.67%. The Newlands result will change those figures. A win is worth 12 points and a draw four.
Why is Steve Smith not playing in the 3rd Test?
Cricket Australia said Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha, and an MRI confirmed a cervical facet joint injury. It anticipates a full return for the home Test series against New Zealand in December, and he will not be considered for selection before then.
Sources
- South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test full scorecard, ESPN (ESPNcricinfo)
- Mulder, Rickelton tons set Australia 288 target, ESPN (ESPNcricinfo)
- ICC World Test Championship Table 2025-27, ESPN (ESPNcricinfo)
- Lyon's late strike lifts Aussies after dynamic Inglis century, Cricket Australia (cricket.com.au)
- Proteas surge back to send epic series into final day, Cricket Australia (cricket.com.au)
- Intrepid Cummins delves into the Ahmedabad playbook, Cricket Australia (cricket.com.au)
- South Africa v Australia, third Test: match preview, Cricket Australia (cricket.com.au)
- South Africa fight to set up exciting series finale, ICC
- State of Play in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27, ICC
- Pacer back after two years for South Africa's series decider, ICC
- Neck injury confirmed as New Zealand the focus for Smith, ICC
- World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle commences, ICC
- Australia set 288 to win third Test after Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder centuries spark South African fightback, ABC News
- Australia in box seat of third Test at Newlands, as South Africa falls to 4-140 in Cape Town, ABC News
- South Africa vs Australia, third Test: Centuries by Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder lift hosts back into series contention in Newlands decider, Sky Sports
- DAY 4: Rickelton, Mulder centuries put Proteas in charge, SuperSport
- Day 3: Josh Inglis century keeps Australia in control vs South Africa at Newlands, SABC Sport
- Cape Town set for classic finale: what does history suggest could happen?, BBC Sport (via Yahoo Sports)
- Australia lead by 100 after Inglis century, AFP (via Yahoo Sports)
- SA vs AUS: Proteas all-rounder Mulder achieves stunning feat following 4th Test ton, The Tribune (ANI)
- Proteas vs Australia: Fans can watch Newlands decider live on SABC3, Diamond Fields Advertiser
- Where to watch South Africa vs Australia: live stream, TV channel, start time for 3rd Test, The Sporting News (Yahoo Sports)
- Watch South Africa vs Australia 2026 3rd Test: Live Streams, Wilson's Media
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 23 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 31, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
