Simon Harmer spun South Africa to a famous Test series win over Australia as the hosts claimed a 176 run victory in the third test in Cape Town.

Australia needed to chase down 288 runs in the fourth innings but crumbled as Harmer claimed six wickets for just 16 on a deteriorating fifth day pitch to help bowl the Aussies out for 111.

37-year-old Harmer claimed his very first 10-wicket haul in a Test with figures of 10-120 in the match as South Africa clinched victory in a game that swung both ways throughout the five days of play.

The Proteas made 329 runs in their first innings before Australia notched up 429 runs in reply and opened a 100 run lead. South Africa added a further 387 runs from their second innings leaving the match finely poised with Australia 288 runs away from victory.

But, Kagiso Rababa provided able support to Harmer and took 3-39 on Saturday to also reach a landmark 350 Test match wickets as Australia collapsed to 60-7 by lunch time. They were dismissed for 111 before tea.

This series has been the first one played between the two nations in South Africa since the famously fiesty and controversial ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal in 2018. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa drew level with an innings and 31 run victory in Gqeberha.

“It was about dealing with the expectation (in the fourth innings). The biggest thing was to get the win today," Harmer said after the game.

“We were in the game with the way KG (Rabada) bowled this morning. As a spinner, on a turning wicket, that’s what dreams are made of. It has been a tough few weeks, but today was a lot of fun.”

Australia captain Pat Cummins said it was fair to ​ask questions about his side after they slipped to two heavy defeats in a row.

“We lost two games in a row. I think it's fair to be asking questions and we'll be asking them internally as well,” Cummins told reporters.

"We are a very good side but I think we need to get a little bit better if we want to get back to number one (in the world). Maybe ‌that's a change of style, maybe it's a change of personnel in some instances. We'll work it out."