Newlands Test: Rickelton and Mulder Centuries Put South Africa in Command, Australia Face Historic Chase

CAPE TOWN: South Africa strengthened their hold on the third Test at Newlands on the fourth day as Ryan Rickelton’s 101 and Wiaan Mulder’s 115 set Australia a target that would be the second-highest successful run chase in the 137-year Test history of the ground. Australia toiled through the first two sessions, taking only one wicket before a burst after tea, but the day still belonged to the home side and set up an intriguing fifth day on Saturday. South Africa resumed on 140 for four and lost only Matthew Breetzke (43) in two sessions. Breetzke fell to a pull shot and was caught on the boundary, a familiar mode of dismissal for the home side in this Test. Rickelton and Mulder then put on 154 for the sixth wicket, taking few risks and accumulating runs. Mulder top-scored with 115, his fourth Test century, while Rickelton made 101. Nathan Lyon took 2-101 as the spinner found considerable turn, while the seamers had to deal with variable bounce. Mulder was the last man out, caught on the boundary as he tried to up the tempo, bringing the day to a close. Rickelton told reporters: “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.” That quote summed up South Africa’s approach. They did not try to counter-attack Australia. Instead, they made patience their weapon. As the pitch became more difficult for batting, the home side made sure it did not lose quick wickets. Rickelton and Mulder gave the ball time in the middle overs, put away the loose deliveries and found boundaries when needed. The partnership lowered Australia’s confidence and gave South Africa a strong platform. It was a day of hard work for Australia. They managed only one success in the first two sessions. After tea they took a few wickets quickly, but by then South Africa had already built a big score. Lyon bowled a long spell and finished with two wickets for 101 runs. The seamers also tried, but variable bounce and the batsmen’s patience denied them. The fact that Australia took only one wicket in the first two sessions showed both their struggle and South Africa’s discipline. After tea Australia made inroads, but the day still ended in the home side’s favour. Mulder was the last man out. He tried to increase the tempo and was caught on the boundary. His dismissal ended the South African innings and left Australia with a target. Mulder’s innings showed that he can change a match not only with the ball but also with the bat. His century became even more important because the team was recovering from early blows and moving towards a big lead. Australia now need to complete the second-highest successful run chase in the 137-year Test history of Newlands. It is not just a target of runs; it is a test of patience, technique and resolve in difficult conditions. Australia will need to score at more than three runs per over. The South African bowling attack has had its feet up for more than a day and a half, while Australia’s bowlers have spent a long time in the field. That difference could matter on Saturday. South Africa’s bowling is fresh and the pitch is helping them. Lyon found turn, while the seamers will hope to exploit variable bounce. Australia’s batsmen will have to concentrate on every ball. If they lose early wickets, South Africa can tighten their grip on the match. On the other hand, if Australia get a good start, the contest could become tense. Saturday will be the decisive day of this Test. South Africa’s biggest relief was that their batsmen kept Australia in the field for a long time. Even after Breetzke’s dismissal, the team did not lose composure. Rickelton held one end and Mulder supported him from the other. Together they wore down Australia’s bowlers. That could affect Australia’s batting because they will now face a fresh South African attack rather than a tired one. The key to Rickelton’s innings was his restraint. He took advantage of loose balls but avoided risky shots. When the team needed a big partnership, he completed his century. His innings was important because it gave the team strength in a situation where early wickets had fallen. Mulder supported him so well that Australia could not find a breakthrough in the middle. Their partnership shaped the course of the match. Australia’s bowlers tried, but they could not find consistent success. Lyon bowled the longest spell and took two wickets. The seamers found bounce at times and none at others. Batting was not easy in such conditions, but Rickelton and Mulder maintained their discipline. They made Australia realise that wickets would not come quickly. As the overs went by, Australia’s patience wore thin and South Africa kept adding runs. By the end of the day, South Africa had set Australia a big target. The question now is how Australia’s batting will handle the pressure. The Newlands pitch could become more difficult after the fourth day. Spinners will get help and seamers may benefit from uneven bounce. Australia will therefore need to be cautious from the start. If they build a big partnership, the match could come close. The series is level at 1-1. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, while South Africa responded with a victory by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha. Both teams have won one match, so the third Test is the decider. The winner of this match will occupy the number one spot in the Test world rankings. Australia currently hold that position. South Africa have a chance to take it by winning at home. The pressure of the rankings is on both teams, but South Africa’s batting on the fourth day will have boosted their confidence. Australia now face a double challenge: a big target and a deteriorating pitch against a fresh attack. Australia have experienced batsmen, but they will need to play long innings. South Africa need only ten wickets and are in a position to apply pressure. Mulder’s century could prove to be the most important passage of this match. He scored runs when the team needed momentum. However, he was the last man out, which ended the South African innings. His 115-run knock put the team in a strong position. Rickelton made 101 and played his role. Their partnership kept Australia in the field for a long time and tired out the bowlers. South Africa’s plan was clear: save wickets and add runs. They did exactly that. Australia created a few chances, but the batsmen did not allow them to capitalise. Breetzke’s wicket was an exception, as he played a pull shot and was caught on the boundary. After that, Rickelton and Mulder made no big mistake. They played the ball on merit and made Australia wait. Saturday could change the course of the match in several ways. If Australia survive the first 20 to 25 overs without major damage, they can get back into the game. But if South Africa take two or three early wickets, the home side will be on top. Turn and bounce will become more pronounced, making batting increasingly difficult. Australia will need to use their experience. Australia’s relief is that they have a strong batting line-up. But chasing a big target on the Newlands pitch will not be easy. They will need to score at more than three runs per over against a fresh South African attack. Australia must therefore not only score runs but also protect wickets. Finding that balance will be their biggest challenge. South Africa’s bowlers now have a chance to put Australia under pressure. Lyon found turn, but South Africa’s bowlers can also get help from the pitch. The seamers will need to exploit uneven bounce. If they maintain line and length, Australia’s batsmen will find run-scoring difficult. The home side simply need to stay patient. Overall, the fourth day belonged to South Africa. They built a strong position with the bat and gave Australia the challenge of completing the second-highest successful run chase in the ground’s Test history. It will be fascinating to see how Australia respond on Saturday. If South Africa win, they will take the series and also move to number one in the Test rankings. If Australia complete a historic chase, they will keep their top spot. This Test at Newlands has already seen many twists. The first two Tests were also engrossing and the series is level at 1-1. The third Test is decisive and the fourth day has made it even more interesting. South Africa have a chance to win at home, while Australia face a challenge to protect their reputation. Saturday will decide who wears the Test crown. Another aspect of the Rickelton-Mulder partnership was that it forced Australia’s bowlers to try different plans. When straight bowling did not work, Australia used bouncers and slower balls, but both batsmen remained calm. They held their positions at the crease and played the ball on merit. Australia’s strategy looked increasingly scattered. As for the pitch, it was not easy for batting by the fourth day. There was turn for the spinners and uneven bounce for the seamers. That makes the centuries from Rickelton and Mulder even more valuable. They not only scored runs but also showed Australia that a big innings was possible through patience. That message will be useful for South Africa on Saturday. Australia’s captain and bowlers must now think about how to stop South Africa’s batsmen. They took only one wicket in the first two sessions, which showed that the pitch was not offering much help. After tea they found some success, but by then it was too late. Now they must focus on Australia’s batting and hope their batsmen can achieve a big target. Another important factor on Saturday will be the kind of bowling South Africa produce. If they maintain a strict line and length in the early overs, Australia’s batsmen will find it hard to score. On the other hand, if Australia score quickly, pressure will build on South Africa. That is why this contest is shaping up as one of the most exciting Tests of the series.