Australia collapse on final day as Simon Harmer spins South Africa to series win

South Africa’s Simon Harmer took a career-best six for 16 as the hosts thumped Australia by 176 runs to clinch their three-test series 2-1 at Newlands on Saturday.

Australia lost Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in the opening over and never really recovered. While Pat Cummins’s 90-ball vigil and Nathan Lyon’s unbeaten 33 in the hope of a draw delayed the inevitable, their fate was sealed Simon Harmer bowled Josh Hazlewood just before tea.

Kagiso Rabada took three for 39 as he became the fastest man to 350 Test wickets while Harmer’s ripped the heart out of the tourists.

The chaos was summed up when Cameron Green defended a ball past Marques Ackerman at silly point, took off and ran Josh Inglis out in the process.

Harmer took two wickets in one over during the collapse, getting Alex Carey reverse-sweeping before Cooper Connolly was caught behind for a duck.

It reached the point of Australia’s lower order trying to shield Green from facing Harmer, before the spinner swapped ends and bowled the right-hander immediately to make it 62 for 8.

Only Travis Head (14), Green (27) reached double figures out of Australia’s top eight, with the side at least avoiding being all out for less than 100 twice in a series for the first time since 1936-37.

The Proteas take first spot off Australia in the ICC Test rankings, while also leapfrogging them into the top two in the race to next year’s World Test Championship final.