Proteas centurion Ryan Rickelton excited as Test series goes down to the wire

Rickelton led a South Africa fight back with his third Test hundred, finishing on 101 after batting for almost the entire day at Newlands.

They eventually got bowled out for 387 with a lead of 287 going into Day 5, putting the series decider in the balance, with both teams still in with a chance of victory.

"If you had told me the series would be tied and we are going into the final day of the final test with all three results on the cards, I would not have believed you, but it's really been a special series with lots of ebbs and flows."

Rickelton put up an important 154-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder, who eventually also got to triple figures in the match.

He says their long history together helped their synergy at the crease, despite being broken by a miscommunication that led to his run-out.

"We have played a lot of cricket together from our teenage years and into the Lions setup, and now for South Africa as well. We know each other's games very well, so to be out there together and to put up a big partnership is something special."

READ: Rickelton and Mulder centuries sets up enthralling final day at Newlands

While they went into the fourth day in serious trouble with a lead of just 40 having lost four wickets already, Rickelton revealed that the plan was to just take it ball by ball and not really think of targets.

He also says they had the opportunity to get more runs heading into the final day, but still believes they put up a defendable target for the visitors.