South Africa Tighten Grip at Newlands as Mulder and Rickelton Centuries Leave Australia Facing Historic Chase

Newlands, Cape Town. The fourth day of the third Test between South Africa and Australia belonged to the hosts. South Africa made Australia toil for long stretches, losing only one wicket in the opening two sessions before a burst after tea, but the home side still held the upper hand at the close and set up an intriguing tussle for Saturday. Australia took just one wicket in the first two sessions and, although they struck after tea, the broader control of the day remained with South Africa. The match is now poised for a fascinating finish, with Australia needing not only to chase a substantial target but also to survive against a rested South African attack on a deteriorating surface. The story of South Africa’s innings was built around Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton. Mulder top-scored with 115, his fourth Test century, while Rickelton made 101. Their partnership ensured Australia will need to complete the second-highest successful run chase in 137 years of Test cricket at Newlands. Australia will need to score at more than three runs an over against a South African bowling attack that has had its feet up for more than a day-and-a-half. It is not merely a test of scoring rate but also of patience, technique and the ability to handle a pitch that is offering increasing help to the bowlers. South Africa resumed on the fourth morning at 140 for four. They lost only Matthew Breetzke in the first two sessions. Breetzke made 43 before falling to a pull shot, caught on the boundary, a familiar mode of dismissal for the home side in this Test. After his departure, Rickelton and Mulder put on 154 for the sixth wicket. They took few risks and accumulated runs steadily, denying Australia the quick breakthroughs they were hoping for. There was considerable turn for spinner Nathan Lyon, who finished with two for 101, and variable bounce for the seamers. South Africa’s batters did not rush against spin and trusted their defence against the quicker bowlers. Rickelton and Mulder’s patience was their greatest strength. Mulder was the last man out as he tried to up the tempo, caught on the boundary, bringing the day’s play to a close. Rickelton told reporters that the aim was to win the small moments. He said, “It was about trying to win the small moments. We knew we were effectively 40 for four this morning and that Australia would come hard at us. It was about spending time at the crease rather than worrying about scoring runs or getting too far ahead of ourselves. We had our plans and needed to stick to them. We knew the longer we batted, the more frustrated Australia would become. Perhaps they expected things to happen quite quickly because of the deteriorating wicket.” His comments underlined South Africa’s approach: wear down the bowlers, trust the plan and make Australia wait. For Australia, it was a day of hard work. They managed only one wicket in the first two sessions before finding some success after tea, but even that burst did not completely turn the day. South Africa’s low-risk accumulation frustrated the visitors. Australia expected something to happen with every over, but the hosts refused to deviate from their plans. By the end of the day, it was clear that the home side had enjoyed the better of the contest. Australia now face a significant challenge. A successful chase would be the second-highest in Newlands’ 137-year Test history. The pitch is likely to become more difficult, with turn for the spinner and uneven bounce for the seamers. Australia must score quickly enough to keep the required rate under control while also preserving wickets. It is a delicate balance. South Africa, meanwhile, have the advantage of a fresh attack. Their fast bowlers have rested for more than a day-and-a-half, and the spinner has the experience to exploit the surface. The series is level at 1-1. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, and South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. The winner of this match will occupy the number one spot in the Test world rankings, which is currently held by Australia. That adds extra significance to the final stages of this Test. South Africa’s biggest gain on the fourth day was forcing Australia to follow their plans. Losing only one wicket in the first two sessions was frustrating for the visitors. The post-tea wickets came too late to change the overall momentum. Mulder’s 115 was a fine blend of caution and aggression, while Rickelton’s 101 showed that a batter who sticks to his method can succeed on a difficult surface. Australia’s bowlers kept trying, with Lyon extracting turn and the seamers finding variable bounce, but they could not maintain sustained pressure. Breetzke’s dismissal was a warning about the risks of impatience, and South Africa’s senior batters heeded it. Mulder’s late dismissal gave Australia some relief, but it did not weaken South Africa’s position. The hosts still hold the psychological edge. Australia face a dual challenge on Saturday: chasing a big target and countering a fresh South African attack. Early wickets would put Australia under pressure; a slow start would increase the required run rate. South Africa will want their bowlers to strike early, while Australia will hope for a big partnership to keep the match alive. On a surface that is expected to become more difficult, the first session could be decisive. Overall, the fourth day confirmed that South Africa know how to play the conditions at Newlands better than Australia. They produced a major partnership and restricted Australia to a single wicket in the first two sessions. Australia fought back after tea, but the day still belonged to the hosts. Saturday will reveal whether Australia can pull off a historic chase or whether South Africa can maintain the pressure and take both the series and the top ranking.