Dealing with expectations: Spin bowler Simon Harmer leads South Africa to victory
Harmer secured his first 10-wicket haul in the five-day format in the third and final Test against Australia at Newlands.
Spin bowler Simon Harmer, 37, led South Africa to a 176-run victory and a 2-1 series win over Australia in Cape Town on Saturday. The veteran bowler, playing only his 17th Test, took career-best figures of 6/16 in Australia's second innings at Newlands, dismantling the touring team's middle and lower order. Harmer also claimed a 10-wicket haul for the first time in a five-day game, securing the Player of the Match award.
Facing the expectations of leading his team to victory, Harmer focused on his trajectories and nuances learned throughout his domestic career. "It was just dealing with expectations, putting that to one side and understanding what I had to do," he said. Harmer had previously taken only two wickets in the first two matches of the series against Australia, both in Durban and Gqeberha.
He admitted the wickets offered less turn than expected on days four and five, but tried to control his bowling in the first innings and exploit the conditions to take wickets in the second innings. Despite the tough few weeks, Harmer expressed his enjoyment at the final day and the team's first Test series victory over Australia since 2018.
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