By the time Simon Harmer took the last wicket at Newlands, South Africa had won by 176 runs. Anyone coming to the scorecard without having watched the previous four days might wonder what all the fuss had been about.

Those who watched would know better.

South Africa conceded a first-innings lead of 100, then slipped to 181-5 in their second innings. Australia had opportunities to win this Test well before their chase began. The eventual margin tells us how decisively the Proteas finished the match. It says considerably less about the work required to get there.

Six players deserve particular attention, including two whose contributions could easily disappear beneath the hundreds and the final-day wickets.

Marques Ackerman is one of them.

His 95 in the first innings and 62 in the second gave South Africa valuable runs at the top. In a match where batting fortunes changed sharply, he produced twice. The second innings was especially significant: South Africa were already playing from behind, and early wickets increased the danger of Australia taking the game away. Ackerman gave them a way forward.

There is always room in the telling of a victory for the player who finishes it. There should be room, too, for the one whose work ensured there was still a match to win.

Marco Jansen belongs in that conversation.

South Africa were 232-6 in their first innings when he joined Ryan Rickelton. Their partnership added 95, with Jansen making 52. Without that intervention, Australia would have been looking at a considerably smaller total than 329. Jansen then took 3-60 in Australia’s first innings, contributing with both bat and ball while the Test was still developing.

Rickelton’s involvement in that partnership also deserves remembering. His century was his outstanding contribution, but he had already helped South Africa out of trouble once.

The second rescue was a longer, more exacting assignment.

At 181-5, Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder faced an Australian attack with every reason to believe the next wicket would expose the innings. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have spent years turning those situations into victories.

For 154 runs, Rickelton and Mulder denied them.

Rickelton took 218 balls over his 101. There was patience in that innings, and a willingness to keep making good decisions. Against this attack, in this situation, that was precisely what South Africa needed.

His run-out gave Australia another opening. Four wickets fell for 20 runs, leaving Mulder with Kagiso Rabada at 351-9.

Mulder had to change his approach again. Having helped repair the innings, he now had to judge how much more he could take from Australia with the last man beside him. He finished with 115, their final-wicket partnership worth 36, and South Africa had a target of 288 to defend.

Rabada’s part in that stand was modest on the scorecard. His contribution the next morning was anything but.

Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne went in the first over. Travis Head followed, leaving Australia 22-3. Before the visitors could settle into the chase, Rabada had removed three of the men expected to lead it.

His 350th Test wicket was a remarkable personal achievement. Within this match, the immediate significance was simple: South Africa’s bowlers had been given an opportunity, and their leading fast bowler seized it.

Harmer then made Australia’s position progressively worse.

His 6-16 will be remembered among the great South African bowling returns against these opponents. Add his first-innings 4-104, however, and the fuller contribution emerges. He took wickets while Australia were establishing their advantage, then returned to take six more when South Africa had earned the chance to attack.

That is what connects these six performances. Each gave the next man something to work with.

Ackerman’s runs, Jansen’s all-round contribution, Rickelton’s patience and Mulder’s judgement all helped put South Africa in a position from which Rabada and Harmer could win the Test.

The final morning belonged to the bowlers. The victory took considerably more work.

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