South Africa successfully leveled their three-match Test series against Australia on Thursday, clinching an emphatic victory by an innings and 31 runs at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. The hosts successfully raced against incoming adverse weather to bowl Australia out for 295 during the final session of the second Test.
The win completes a remarkable turnaround for the home side, particularly given that the first two days of play were largely lost to rain. South Africa began the third day in a precarious position at 110-6, but a dominant 179-run performance from captain Temba Bavuma allowed the hosts to declare at 425-9. They subsequently bowled Australia out for a mere 99 runs in their first innings to enforce the follow-on. Who were 110-6 when the sun came out on the morning of the third day, looked in early trouble as Australia a, a result in the Test seemed far-fetched when most of the first two days’ play was washed out and South Africa. But a brilliant 179 runs from skipper Temba Bavuma led a fightback that saw South Africa declare on 425-9 and then turn the Test on its head by bowling Australia out for 99 and putting them in to bat again.
Australia’s second innings resistance was led by Travis Head, who reached 121 before edging a delivery from Wiaan Mulder onto his stumps. It marked Head’s 13th Test century and only his second on foreign soil. Meanwhile, nightwatchman Scott Boland provided stubborn resistance, occupying the crease for 166 balls before eventually being bowled shortly after the tea break. Who was 87 overnight, went on to score 121 before chopping onto his stumps a rising delivery from, head and Boland had resumed on 156-4 in the second innings after rain returned and wiped out the morning session and Head. And his departure offered the home bowlers hope again after almost 90 minutes of frustrating attack without success at the start of the day’s action, it was Head’s 13th Test century but only his second outside Australia.
The South African pace attack, anchored by Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, and Marco Jansen, proved decisive in capturing the final four wickets. Mulder claimed the crucial scalp of captain Pat Cummins, who was clean bowled after misreading the line. Rabada, returning to the side following a long injury layoff, finished with figures of 4-77, including the wicket of Mitchell Starc as storm clouds gathered over the ground. The hosts’ pace trio of Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen took the last four wickets required as Australia’s resistance crumbled after a century from Travis Head and a doggedly defiant Test high 40 by nightwa.
Jansen provided the final blow, forcing Josh Hazlewood to nick behind on his first delivery. Alex Carey remained unbeaten on 37, while Mulder concluded the match with impressive figures of 3-64. Steve Smith, hindered by a neck injury sustained during the first innings, managed only three runs before a top-edged pull shot off Rabada was caught by Matthew Breetzke.
Reflecting on the tense finish, Temba Bavuma admitted, “We were scrambling a bit, not sure about the weather and Australia made us work hard for those last six wickets.” The skipper praised the team’s persistence in managing the shifting conditions to secure the result.
Australian captain Pat Cummins conceded his side was far from their best throughout the contest. “I thought we showed some good fight, but it wasn’t quite enough. We were a long way from our best,” he stated following the defeat.
With the series now tied at 1-1, both teams look ahead to the decisive third Test, which is scheduled to begin this coming Tuesday at Newlands in Cape Town.
