The three-match Test series between South Africa and Australia will be settled on Saturday, 31 October 2026, as the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town heads into its final day. With the series level at 1-1, everything is still to play for in this World Test Championship contest.
Series recap
- First Test (Durban): Australia won convincingly to take the early lead.
- Second Test (Gqeberha): South Africa hit back with an innings-and-31-run victory at St George’s Park. Captain Temba Bavuma made a career-best 179 and Marco Jansen’s bowling was the other major reason for the win.
- Third Test (Cape Town): started on 27 October as the series decider.
South Africa also won the three-match one-day series that opened the tour 2-1, and they beat Australia in the final of the last World Test Championship cycle, so the home side has recent history on its side.
How the third Test has unfolded
Australia strengthened their position on day three, with Nathan Lyon removing Bavuma late in the day to leave South Africa 140 for 4 in their second innings, a lead of just 40 runs. Marques Ackerman, who was South Africa’s top scorer in the first innings, added another half-century and shared a 64-run stand with the captain.
Day four belonged to the middle order. Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder both scored centuries to push the match toward a tense finish, although Lyon deserved credit for keeping the Australia attack in the contest with his accuracy and patience.
Key players to watch
- Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder (South Africa): their centuries changed the shape of the game and set up the final-day battle.
- Temba Bavuma (South Africa): the captain’s form with the bat has been the backbone of the series.
- Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): the pace pair can make life hard for Australia’s batters whenever the ball is moving.
- Nathan Lyon (Australia): the veteran off-spinner is the visitors’ most important bowler on a wearing pitch.
- Pat Cummins (Australia): the Test captain needs a breakthrough spell to keep Australia in the hunt.
Prediction
South Africa have the momentum after a strong day four, and the weather forecast for Cape Town has been mostly dry, so a result looks likely. The home side are slightly ahead, but a final-day collapse or a quick Australian chase could still change everything. Expect a tense finish.
What comes next
South Africa host Bangladesh for two Tests in November and then welcome England in December and January, while Australia host New Zealand in a four-Test series from 9 December in Perth.
Match details are based on the latest reports at the time of writing. Check the official scorecard for the final result.
