Test Cricket Is Alive and Well and Living in Newlands

Day five dawned with all three results still possible at the picturesque Newlands Cape Town. The Test match had been 15 rounds of heavyweight boxing between the best in their weight division, combined with the love affair the Newlands faithful have with the oldest form of the game.

Playing cricket on the fifth day at Newlands is a rarity, with only three of the last 10 Tests having made it to the fifth morning. Of these, only one ended in a draw, the 2016 New Year’s run-fest against England.

That match will be remembered for Ben Stokes’ 258, in a partnership of 399 with Jonny Bairstow. Hashim Amla’s 201 in the South African innings was a footnote to the former England captain’s astonishing feat.

The cricket on this fifth morning moved quickly, seemingly with the velocity of a bullet train.

Australia were three wickets down inside seven overs, the steadfast Renshaw and adventurous Head joining desperate Marnus in the members’ Pavilion.

The wicket of Head was Kagiso Rabada’s 350th, with Jansen clinging on to a sharp chance at gully. His celebration mirrored that of Head’s when Bavuma was dismissed at the end of day three.

Rabada’s 350 wickets in 13,808 balls takes him ahead of Dale Steyn’s figure of 14,719, making him the fastest ever to 350 wickets in Test history.

Five thousand tickets were made available at a reduced rate for the final day, and the crowd swelled within the first hour. A communiqué that entrance was free after lunch was distributed.

As the expectation grew of a famous Proteas win under Table Mountain’s eternal gaze, the turnstiles clicked ever faster.

This week has been full of what makes Test match cricket the pinnacle of the sport. An enthralling contest between bat and ball and a crowd that has enjoyed every moment, mostly glued to the edge of their new seats.

After the disappointing crowds in Durban and Gqeberha, Cape Town has been a breath of fresh air.

Attendance for the Test match totalled 47,993, with the lowest day sitting at 8,525.

The world-renowned Oaks, the Railway Stand and members’ Pavilion, silent witnesses to the drama that unfolded before them, were resplendent in the dappled morning sun of Halloween as South Africa sped towards a famous series win.

Harmer Turns the Screws on Australia

At the loss of Head’s wicket at 22/3 after seven overs, Cam Green was joined by Josh Inglis.

Simon Harmer was introduced in the 12th over from the Wynberg End. The first ball of his second over saw Green charge down the wicket, and Harmer shelled a tough return chance.

The team was to reap the reward of Harmer’s control in the 16th over, as Green pushed the ball past Ackerman at silly point and called Inglis for the single.

Ackerman chased the ball down and produced a return over the top of the stumps to leave Inglis short of his ground. Australia were 40/4.

If the Inglis wicket was a hammer blow to Australia, worse was to come as Harmer tightened the screws on the Australian line-up.

In his fourth over, Alex Carey’s attempted reverse sweep found the top edge, and Jansen was again in action as he dived forward from short third to take the catch inches above the ground.

Cooper Connolly came and went, with his hopeful prod taking the edge to Rickelton for a two-ball duck. Australia were 42/6.

Mitchell Starc strode out to join Green, with the veteran paceman clearly given the message that this was now a fight for survival.

The plan was that Green would face the pace and Starc the spin of Harmer.

The plan worked until the ball before lunch, Starc’s 25th, when he thudded the ball into his pad, with the looping ball taken by substitute Corbin Bosch running back from short leg.

Starc was gone for nought, the longest duck of his Test career. Australia were 60/7 after 26 overs.

Australia’s Resistance After Lunch

The half-hour after lunch delivered just two runs, as Cummins and Green defended, with six close catchers around the bat to Harmer, whose figures at that stage were 12-9-5-3.

With the clock at 13:59, with Cam Green on strike to Harmer (who had changed ends) for the first time since lunch, the Australian charged down the wicket, was not able to adjust for the turn, and lost his off bail.

Harmer was mobbed by his teammates. Australia were 62/8.

Harmer’s run of 12 consecutive maidens was ended by Cummins with a brace in his 16th over, as the Australian captain and Nathan Lyon continued to frustrate South Africa.

Thirty minutes before tea saw the partnership between Lyon and Cummins grow to 30, as Australia edged closer to 100.

Three minutes before the scheduled tea break, Simon Harmer produced the perfect delivery from around the wicket to beat Cummins’ resistance of 90 balls and claim his fifth wicket.

The LBW decision was reviewed, with umpire’s call going South Africa’s way, ending an excellent stand of 45 between the numbers nine and 10.

Australia were 107/9.

Harmer Seals a Historic Series Victory

The Proteas claimed the extra half-hour, and Simon Harmer’s first ball of his 22nd over ended the wait for the series win, bowling Josh Hazlewood to dismiss Australia for 111.

He claimed the astounding figures of 6/16 in 21.1 overs, with 14 maidens.

Match figures of 10/120 for Harmer, his first 10-wicket haul in Tests, as he and Kagiso Rabada bowled South Africa to victory on another historic day at Newlands.

South Africa achieved only their second series win at home against Australia since readmission, and with it the number one Test ranking from their illustrious foes.

Test cricket is indeed alive and well. Thanks, Newlands.