South Africa stormed to an emphatic 176-run win against Australia to edge their three-match series 2-1 and go to the summit of the Test rankings on Saturday. 

The Proteas had set a target of 288 heading into the final day, with Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer tearing through the Australian batting order to skittle them out for just 111. 

Harmer finished with figures of 6-16 while Rabada ended on 3-39, with two of the latter's wickets coming in the first over as South Africa immediately took control.

Matt Renshaw was caught by Ryan Rickelton down the leg side for a golden duck and Marnus Labuschagne (4) quickly followed, and it would not get any better for the tourists. 

Travis Head scored just 14 runs as Rabada claimed his 350th Test wicket, with Josh Inglis (4) then run out after Cameron Green called for a quick single but got it all wrong. 

Australia continued to crumble as Marco Jansen took another good catch to dismiss Alex Carey (2). Cooper Connolly was then caught behind two balls later for a two-ball duck. 

Harmer struck again before lunch, with Mitchell Starc – who faced 25 balls without opening his account – caught at short leg as the ball looped up off his pads.

Green fell for 27 soon after the restart, though Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon put on a 45-run stand, only for the former to see his innings end on 11 before the superb Hamer concluded the victory by bowling out Josh Hazlewood (0).

MATCH RESULT #TheProteas seal an emphatic 176-run victory in the third and final Dafabet Test to claim the series 2-1! This magnificent victory also propels #TheProteas to the summit of Test cricket, claiming the No. 1 ranking in the world! Series winners. World No. 1. A brilliant achievement for South African cricket! #Unbreakable #SAvAUS

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 31, 2026

Rampant Rabada reaches Test milestone 

South Africa had done the hard work on day four, when Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder made a 154-run sixth-wicket stand to turn a first-innings deficit of 100 into a lead of 288, and it was the Proteas' bowlers who did the rest. 

And in taking three wickets, Rabada became the quickest bowler to 350 Test wickets by balls bowled.

He got there in 13,808 deliveries, ahead of Dale Steyn and Waqar Younis, while he is the fourth South African bowler to reach that milestone, after Steyn (439), Shaun Pollock (421) and Makhaya Ntini (390). 

Hamer also produced his best Test figures with the ball, surpassing his tallies against India (6-37) and Pakistan (6-50). Only against India (27) and Bangladesh (16) has he managed more wickets in the format than he has versus Australia (14). 

South Africa have now overtaken Australia on top of the rankings after producing a remarkable comeback victory, having been 40-4 in their second innings at the start of day four.

Based on their performance in the last two days, they will be looking to stay there.