South Africa middle-order batters Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder produced magnificent performances during the third and final Test match in Cape Town. The childhood friends engineered a remarkable rescue act on Day 4, guiding the Proteas away from potential defeat and setting up an intriguing final day in the series decider.
Rickelton compiled a resilient 101 runs featuring 12 boundaries before falling to a run out by Josh Inglis in the 120th over. Mulder played with immense confidence from the other end, scoring 115 runs anchored by 10 fours and four sixes. Their crucial partnership of 154 runs for the sixth wicket formed the backbone of South Africa’s second-innings total of 387 in 134.4 overs, leaving Australia a target of 288 runs to win.
Record-Breaking Partnership Against Australia
- Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder became the first ever No. 6 and No. 7 batting pair to score centuries against Australia in the second innings of a Test match.
- This achievement marked only the fourth instance in Test history where a No. 6 and No. 7 combination both reached three figures in a team’s second innings.
- The feat ended a 37-year drought, as the last occurrence dates back to 1989 when Australian batters Dean Jones and Steve Waugh accomplished it against Sri Lanka in Hobart.
- The milestone was initially established in 1937 by Australian greats Jack Fingleton and Don Bradman during a match against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Match Situation and Outlook
With Rickelton’s departure, Australia looked to clean up the tail quickly, but tailender Kagiso Rabada provided solid resistance to help Mulder reach his milestone. Captain Pat Cummins eventually removed Mulder as the final wicket of the innings. The monumental efforts of Rickelton and Mulder have shifted the momentum back toward the hosts, ensuring a dramatic and tense conclusion to the series decider as Australia chases the target.
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