South Africa sealed one of their finest Test victories, defeating Australia by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha to level the series and set up a decider at Newlands in Cape Town. The result was all the more remarkable given that South Africa had been reduced to 97 for 5 at the close of the second day, with the first two days also disrupted by rain.
From that precarious position, and an even more wobbly 110 for 6, South Africa recovered to post 425 for 9, with Temba Bavuma scoring a career-best 179, ably supported by 80s from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer. They then bowled Australia out for 99 and enforced the follow-on, only the third time Australia had been made to bat again since 1988.
In the second innings, South Africa worked through the Australian batting order with more than 28 overs remaining in the day when Josh Hazlewood slashed Marco Jansen to slip, condemning Australia to their first innings defeat since 2023. It was fitting that Jansen completed the victory given his all-round contribution throughout the match.
How did Australia try and combat during the final day’s play?
Play on the final day did not begin until 12pm after morning showers washed out the first session. Travis Head had been defiant throughout the morning, reaching his century from 151 balls with two boundaries in three deliveries against Jansen. The landmark was Head’s second Test century overseas, following the 163 he made in the 2023 World Test Championship final. It was also his first against South Africa and his fourth as an opener in Tests.
South Africa were without the injured Anrich Nortje, who had limped off with a groin injury the previous day. Wiaan Mulder stepped up in his absence, operating with a wicket-to-wicket wobble seam with wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton standing up to the stumps. Coming around the wicket, Mulder cramped Head for room and forced a bottom edge onto the stumps, ending a defiant innings that had briefly given Australia hope.
The dismissal brought Steven Smith to the crease at No. 7 after neck issues the previous day had forced him down the order. Against the first ball of Kagiso Rabada’s second over with the new ball, he top-edged a pull into the leg side and Matthew Breetzke completed a juggle catch at midwicket
How did Australia’s innings finally come to a culmination?
Scott Boland, who served as nightwatcher twice in this Test and also claimed 5 for 81, survived 166 balls in a resolute display of 40. His resistance ended early in the final session when Mulder nipped one back between bat and pad. Mulder then moved a delivery the other way to beat Pat Cummins’ outside edge into off stump. Rabada struck in his first over back when Mitchell Starc swung across the line, before Jansen applied the finishing touch to complete the victory.
South Africa’s victory in Gqeberha levels the series after their defeat in Durban. The two sides will now meet at Newlands in Cape Town for the series decider, one of the most iconic Test venues in the world.
