Australia and South Africa pressed on with their intense fight for dominance on Day 3 of the deciding third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, as the touring side aimed to establish a dominant first-innings score. Nevertheless, experienced off-spinner Simon Harmer provided a vital breakthrough when he got rid of century-maker Josh Inglis for 102, breaking a dangerous stand and swinging control back in favor of the hosts.
Playing through the discomfort of a broken right index finger, Inglis had delivered a resolute counter-attacking knock. His wicket turned out to be a major blow for Australia, especially with Harmer subsequently dismissing Alex Carey for 80, which offered the Proteas a crucial chance to work their way back into the match.
Simon Harmer deceives Josh Inglis with skillful spin bowling
The wicket fell on the final ball of the 99th over as Harmer delivered a tempting ball outside the off stump. Generating away-drift, the South African slow bowler pitched it full to entice Inglis into a stroke. The Australian keeper-batter, having batted for a long spell, pushed at the ball with rigid hands. Unfortunately for him, he could not control the defense and nicked a fine edge straight to gloveman Ryan Rickelton.
Rickelton moved swiftly to grab a clean catch behind the wickets, terminating Inglis’ fine knock at 102. The right-handed batter seemed to expect greater turn than actually occurred, giving Harmer the chance to capitalize on the minor error in judgment.
This success rewarded Harmer for his patient spell, having consistently tested Inglis’ footwork while striving to keep the scoring in check during the partnership. The crucial wicket infused new confidence into the South African camp following Australia’s period of dominance.
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Simon Harmer gets his man pic.twitter.com/ZMCugDdKNN
— Dexter (@DexteisGenius) October 29, 2026
Josh Inglis excels regardless of fractured finger
The hundred scored by Inglis was all the more remarkable given the context of his inclusion. Brought into the Australian side late as an injury replacement for Steve Smith, he had to perform while managing a broken right index finger fitted with a protective splint.
Overcoming these hurdles, the keeper-batter displayed great calmness and resilience against a spin-dominated South African bowling unit. Even though he initially struggled to find his rhythm, Inglis slowly adapted his technique and started turning the pressure back onto the opposition.
He regularly stepped out to unsettle Harmer’s line and length, taking calculated risks whenever the ball was in his zone. A highlight of his knock was a towering hit over deep midwicket for six, demonstrating his prowess against slow bowling. Additionally, Inglis made judicious use of the sweep shot, blending controlled aggression with smart single-taking to keep the scoreboard ticking for Australia.
Starting the third day overnight on 85, Inglis displayed composure before bringing up his three-figure mark with a reverse-swept boundary off Harmer. His effort added crucial runs to the total and laid the foundation for a sizable stand alongside Carey. Nonetheless, Harmer’s breakthrough to get Inglis altered the momentum at Newlands, with the off-spinner quickly following up by dismissing Carey for 80 to inflict further damage on Australia’s middle order.
