South Africa boss Australia to win Test series, reclaim No.1 ranking after 10 years

South Africa produced a sensational performance in Cape Town to defeat Australia by 176 runs in the third and deciding Test, clinching the series 2-1 and reclaiming the No.1 spot in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in over a decade. At Newlands, the Proteas completed a remarkable turnaround after Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer helped the hosts bowl out Australia for 111 in their pursuit of 288 on the fifth day to seal a memorable victory.

It was a particularly sweet triumph for South Africa, who last occupied the top position in the Test rankings in January 2016. Ten years later, they have returned to the summit by overcoming the visitors in a fiercely contested series. For Australia, meanwhile, Cape Town once again became a venue of



painful memories, although this time the damage was inflicted on the field rather than through the controversy that engulfed their 2018 tour.

The memories of the infamous Sandpaper Gate scandal, which unfolded at Newlands in March 2018, had followed Australia back to Cape Town. Eight years later, the same venue witnessed another difficult chapter in their cricketing history as South Africa outplayed them when it mattered most.

After Australia had taken the first Test, South Africa responded emphatically in the second before delivering the decisive blow in the series finale. Having conceded a first-innings lead, the hosts fought back through outstanding contributions from their batters to set Australia a challenging target of 288.