Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder each scored a second-innings century for South Africa against Australia at Newlands on October 30, 2026. They became the first No. 6 and No. 7 pair to do so in a Test since 1989, helping set Australia 288 to win the series-deciding third Test.
Match Context: A Series Level at 1-1
South Africa were dismissed for 387 in 134.4 overs in their second innings. They had trailed by 100 runs on the first innings, so the total gave Australia a target of 288 on the final day.
The series stood level at 1-1, which made the third Test a decider. South Africa resumed day four at 140 for 4, a lead of 40 runs, and built their advantage through a long middle-order partnership.
Innings Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| South Africa second innings | 387 all out (134.4 overs) |
| First-innings deficit | 100 runs |
| Target set for Australia | 288 runs |
| Score at start of day four | 140/4 (lead of 40) |
| Series status | 1-1 |
Individual Performances: Rickelton and Mulder
Rickelton made 101 off 219 balls with 12 boundaries. He was run out in the 120th over after a direct involvement from Josh Inglis.
Mulder followed with 115 off 221 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes. Pat Cummins dismissed him to close the innings at 387.
Batting Comparison
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | Boundaries | Dismissal |
|---|
| Ryan Rickelton | 101 | 219 | 46.12 | 12 boundaries | Run out |
| Wiaan Mulder | 115 | 221 | 52.04 | 10 fours, 4 sixes | b Cummins |
Both batters scored at a measured rate, with Mulder about six runs per 100 balls faster. Mulder's 10 fours and four sixes account for 64 runs, or roughly 56 percent of his total, in boundaries alone.
Partnership Analysis: 154 Runs in Nearly 54 Overs
The pair batted together for nearly 54 overs and added 154 runs. That lifted South Africa from 181 for 5 to 335 for 6, an average of roughly 2.85 runs per over.
The stand was built on patience rather than acceleration. It absorbed most of the day, which gave the lower order a platform and left Australia a target above 250.
The Run-Out and Late Collapse
The partnership ended when Rickelton went for a second run and Mulder stayed at his crease. Inglis's fielding completed the run-out at 335 for 6.
Rickelton said he was frustrated at the time but valued sharing the crease with a childhood friend. The two attended St Stithians College in Johannesburg and have played together for the Lions and South Africa.
South Africa lost their remaining wickets for 52 runs, with Kagiso Rabada giving Mulder support as he approached his hundred. The innings closed in the last over of the day.
Historical Comparison: First Since 1989
According to the match report, a No. 6 and No. 7 batter have each scored a second-innings Test century for the same team on only a handful of occasions. Rickelton and Mulder are the fourth pair to do it and the first from South Africa.
The previous instance came in 1989, when Dean Jones and Steve Waugh both reached three figures for Australia against Sri Lanka in Hobart. That is a gap of 37 years.
Known Instances Cited
| Year | Venue | Pair | Team | Opposition |
|---|
| 1937 | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Jack Fingleton and Don Bradman | Australia | England |
| 1989 | Hobart | Dean Jones and Steve Waugh | Australia | Sri Lanka |
| 2026 | Newlands, Cape Town | Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder | South Africa | Australia |
The two earlier instances above were both achieved by Australian batters. The Newlands pair are the first South African combination on this list.
What the Numbers Mean for the Decider
A target of 288 is the central metric for the final day. Australia must chase it with the series level at 1-1, against a South African attack led by Rabada.
The two centuries carried South Africa from a 100-run first-innings deficit to a competitive total. The rarity of the feat, set against nearly nine decades of Test cricket, shows how much the middle-order stand shaped the match.