South Africa defeated Australia by 176 runs in Cape Town to clinch Test series 2-1.
South Africa pulled off an emphatic 176-run victory over Australia in the third and final Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday (October 31) to seal the series 2-1.
Chasing a target of 288, the visitors collapsed to 22/3 and then slumped to 60/7 by lunch. They were bundled out for just 111 shortly before tea.
Kagiso Rabada triggered the early collapse by ripping through the Australian top order. He dismissed Matt Renshaw for a golden duck, Marnus Labuschagne for 4, and Travis Head for 14. In doing so, the ace pacer claimed his 350th Test wicket.
Subsequently, off-spinner Simon Harmer completely dismantled the Australian batting line-up, registering career-best figures of 6 for 16. He finished with a 10-wicket match haul (10/120).
With this definitive win, the Proteas dethroned Australia to claim the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's Test rankings, which skipper Temba Bavuma described as an exceptional achievement.
"Yeah, that's exceptional. I think that's obviously been a part of our ambition as a team. We're trying to push that standard as high as we can. And, with this opportunity that we have, we want to leave the Proteas badge in a better place. So we will definitely celebrate that milestone as a team," Bavuma said at the post-match presentation.
Bavuma highly praised the intensity and quality of the hard-fought Test series, rating it as the finest he has ever been a part of.
"Definitely up there. I mean every time you get an opportunity to come up against Australia, you savour that. You obviously want to get the better of them and you know that you're going to work very hard. So I mean this, not just this game, but this series is one - I don't think I've been involved in a better series like that. So yeah, this is definitely there at number one," he added.
Australia held upper hand in the series-decider after posting 429 in their first innings (led by Josh Inglis's 102 and Alex Carey's 80), building a 100-run lead over South Africa's initial 329.
Coming out to bat in the third innings, South Africa turned the match completely on its head by scoring 387. Ryan Rickelton (101) and Wiaan Mulder (115) spearheaded the fightback with a spectacular 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket, putting the game beyond Australia's reach.
Reflecting on his team's comeback, Bavuma credited the resilience shown by his players throughout the series.
"I think firstly, I mean it's been an enthralling 15 days of cricket, right? I think from the first Test, the second Test, third Test, I think you saw two quality sides coming up against each other, exploiting each other's weaknesses. And I guess at the end of the day there has to be a victor, right? But I mean, we at times, we found ourselves in awe of the Australians, so credit to Pat and his troops," the South African captain stated.
"But I think a lot of it for us was, I guess that whole South African trait of resilience, right? We seem to play a lot better when we're behind the game. Whether that's a good or bad thing, that's for us. But, I think the fans and everyone globally have been treated to proper cricket," he remarked.
Temba Bavuma stressed the importance of having a versatile bowling attack, commending Harmer for bouncing back strongly after a dismal show in the second Test at Gqeberha.
"It does make your job a lot easier. I think our bowling attack, it's been the backbone of our team. It's been a big part of why we've been successful, when the wicket suits the fast bowlers, we have the guys to do so. And when the slow bowlers, the spinners come into game, we also have that ability. So I think very dynamic within our bowling attack and I mean super, super happy for a guy like Simon. He was disappointed in Gqeberha after how he went about there. And the way that he's bounced back here speaks to that champion mindset of his," he said.
South Africa will now shift their attention to the upcoming assignments, but Bavuma said the players first needed time to celebrate their triumph.
"We have got a couple of days now. So I think with all the emotions that we have gone through, we will have to give that time to settle. We will celebrate each other's performances, the team's performances, just bask in that a little bit. And then probably in a week or so we'll meet up as a team and we will start prepping for Bangladesh," he concluded.
(With IANS Inputs)