South Africa set 288‑run target against Australia as Rickelton and Mulder forge 154‑run partnership

Match Overview

• Series: South Africa vs Australia – 3rd Test
• Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
• Date: Fourth day of the Test (reported on 13 Oct 2023)
• Target: South Africa posted 387 in their second innings, leaving Australia a 288‑run chase.

innings breakdown

• South Africa 1st innings: 329 all out.
• Australia 1st innings: 429, gaining a 100‑run lead.
• South Africa 2nd innings: 387, setting the target.
• Australia 2nd innings: yet to begin at the time of reporting.

Key partnership

On day 4, with South Africa 6 wickets down for 181, Ryan Rickelton and Vian Mulder combined for a 154‑run stand for the sixth wicket.

• Rickelton: 101 runs off 219 balls (run‑out).
• Mulder: 115 runs off 221 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes.
• The partnership lasted 318 balls and lifted the total to 335/6 before Rickelton’s dismissal.

Mulder’s lower‑order effort

After Rickelton’s wicket, Mulder added 36 runs with Kagiso Rabada (53‑ball stand) and then accelerated, hitting a boundary off Nathan Lyon and two sixes (one off Pat Commins, another a slog‑sweep off Lyon) to push the lead past 250 runs.

What’s next?

Australia will need to chase 288 runs in the fourth innings. The target is modest by Test standards, but the pitch at Newlands can offer assistance to seamers, especially under overcast conditions. Fans can follow live updates on the official Cricket South Africa website or reputable sports broadcasters.

How to verify

• Check the official match scorecard on the ICC or Cricket South Africa portals.
• Look for post‑match reports from established outlets such as ESPNcricinfo, BBC Sport, or The Hindu.
• The partnership figures and target are also reflected in the live‑text commentary provided by the venue’s scoreboard.

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