South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, wrapping up the match in the final session of day five on Thursday, according to SuperSport. Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder took the last wickets as the tourists were bowled out for 295 in their second innings.
The outcome levels the three-match series at one win apiece ahead of the final Test in Cape Town next week.
The result was remarkable given the conditions. Rain across the opening two days allowed only 43 overs of the expected 180, and the entire morning session on day five was lost to the weather. SuperSport reports that the hosts still managed to force an innings victory.
Why it matters
A win of this kind, achieved in such little playing time, keeps South Africa in the series and sets up a deciding Test. For Australia, the defeat leaves them with a short turnaround to correct a batting display that collapsed twice in Gqeberha.
The match also underlined the value of South Africa's lower order and their captain's form. Temba Bavuma's career-best 179 anchored the only innings of the match, and contributions from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer turned that platform into a total large enough to dictate terms.
Bavuma's century and lower-order resistance set the tone
South Africa batted once and declared on 425 for nine on day three. Bavuma's 179 was the centrepiece, while Jansen made 85 and Harmer 82 as the lower order piled on runs. According to SuperSport, that declaration innings proved decisive in a match where time was always short.
The bowlers then delivered in Australia's first innings. Jansen led the way with five wickets for 33 runs as the tourists were dismissed for 99, leaving them 326 runs behind. Bavuma enforced the follow-on on the afternoon of day four, a call that gave his side the chance to press for victory despite the lost overs.
Boland's long vigil and Head's century delay the finish
Australia's second innings was a different contest. Opener Travis Head made his 13th Test century, a 121 from 190 balls that included 15 fours, and nightwatchman Scott Boland absorbed 166 deliveries for his 40 runs. SuperSport described Boland's effort as a rearguard that kept the hosts waiting.
South Africa resumed on day five at 156 for four, with Australia still needing 170 to make the hosts bat again. Head and Boland extended their fifth-wicket stand before Mulder struck, cramping Head with a short ball that the batter deflected onto his own stumps. That left Australia on 209 for five.
Steve Smith, who SuperSport reports was carrying a neck injury from the first innings, lasted 20 balls for three runs. Shortly after the new ball was taken, he attempted to pull a short, wide delivery from Rabada and skied a catch to Matthew Breetzke at midwicket, which was taken after a juggle. Australia slipped to 225 for six.
Alex Carey and Boland carried the side to tea at 253 for six without further loss. After the interval, Mulder ended Boland's long stay by bringing a ball back between bat and pad to hit the stumps. In his next over he removed Pat Cummins for four in similar fashion, clipping the top of off stump, and Australia were 262 for eight.
Mitchell Starc made 11 in a ninth-wicket partnership of 28 with Carey, but Rabada returned and seamed one back to bowl him. Jansen then closed out the match by having Josh Hazlewood caught by Aiden Markram at slip for a second-ball duck. Rabada finished with four for 77 and Mulder with three for 64, per SuperSport.
Bavuma said afterwards that the weather had made the morning uncertain for his team. "The weather wanted to play a part today and we were scrambling a little bit in the changeroom (this morning), with us not to sure about the weather. But we were very excited as soon as we got on," he said, according to SuperSport.
He added that Australia had made South Africa work for the six wickets they needed on the final day, and that attention had already shifted to the last match. "They made us work hard for those six wickets, and obviously everyone is happy. But we still have a job at hand with another match still to go, and we are now focused on that."
South Africa's XI in Gqeberha was Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Mulder, Jansen, Harmer, Anrich Nortje and Rabada. Australia fielded Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Beau Webster, Carey, Cummins, Starc, Boland and Hazlewood.
The deciding Test in Cape Town begins next week, with the series level and both sides having shown they can swing a match quickly.
