Australia need 288 at Newlands after Rickelton and Mulder hundreds drag South Africa to 387

Wendy
October 30, 2026

Australia will need 288 on the final day at Newlands to win the series in South Africa, after Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder made hundreds and South Africa were bowled out for 387 just before stumps on day four, ABC Sport’s live coverage showed. Australia did not have to bat on Friday evening.

The series stands at 1-1, so this is a straight shoot-out for the trophy. AFP reported that the winner also takes the No. 1 Test ranking, which Australia currently hold. And the pitch is now doing plenty: South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer said after day three that the surface had changed dramatically and that spin would play a bigger part from here.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Key points

South Africa were bowled out for 387 in their second innings, leaving Australia 288 to win
Ryan Rickelton made 101 off 219 balls and Wiaan Mulder 115 off 221
The series is level at 1-1, so day five at Newlands decides it

Two hundreds, then a wobble

South Africa started the day on 140 for 4, only 40 ahead after Nathan Lyon bowled Temba Bavuma late on Thursday. Matthew Breetzke made 43 before pulling Pat Cummins to Mitchell Starc, and from there Rickelton and Mulder batted through most of the day.

Day four at Newlands in numbers: South Africa 387 all out, Australia need 288, Mulder 115, Rickelton 101 — Day four at Newlands in four numbers. Credit: Graphic: Cricket Betting

Rickelton reached his century in the 119th over and was run out for 101 off 219 balls after a mix-up with Mulder, with Josh Inglis completing the run-out. ABC’s commentator Chris De Silva called it “a huge moment in this game, just as South Africa was beginning to get on top.”

It was. The lower order went quickly after that, and Mulder took the score past 380 almost on his own, with Kagiso Rabada making 2 at the other end. Mulder was the last man out, caught by Starc at long-on off Cummins for 115 off 221 balls.

What 288 looks like on this pitch

On a flat deck, 288 with a full day to play would favour the batting side. This is not that. ABC’s Simon Smale wrote at tea that the pitch had “degraded” and was “turning sharply”, and Lyon bowled more than 27 overs in the innings. Harmer took 4 for 104 from 37 overs in Australia’s 429, AFP reported, so South Africa have a spinner who already knows how to bowl on this surface.

Australia’s batting is also without Steve Smith, who was ruled out of the match on the first morning with a neck injury, according to AFP. Inglis came in and made 102 in the first innings, the backbone of Australia’s 100-run lead, but he was also the one who suggested after day three that anything over 200 would be hard to chase here, AFP reported. They now need 88 more than that.

How the series got here

Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. South Africa hit back in Gqeberha, winning by an innings and 31 runs despite losing two days to rain. Starc’s 6 for 72 in South Africa’s first innings at Newlands looked to have swung the decider Australia’s way. Two long innings on Friday swung it back. Our guide to grounds and stadiums covers how venues like this tend to play late in a Test.

What happens next

Day five starts on Saturday afternoon IST. Australia need 288 with all ten wickets in hand; South Africa need ten wickets. A draw would leave the series 1-1. Anyone following ball by ball will find in-play cricket odds explained in our live section.

Market watch

Spin is the story: watch how many overs Harmer bowls in the first session, and whether Australia’s openers attack him.
A draw is a live outcome on a fifth-day pitch with a full day to bat, more so if Australia lose early wickets and shut up shop.
Australia’s top order has no Smith, which puts more weight on whoever bats at four.
Lyon’s 27-plus overs in the second innings show what Australia think of the surface; Harmer will expect more from it.

For more, see our match predictions, the team pages and upcoming fixtures in the match centre.

Top image: Photo: Biplab_Anand / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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