South Africa produced a stirring and dominant response to level their high-stakes three-Test series against Australia, securing a comprehensive innings-and-31-run victory at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
The Proteas’ emphatic triumph on the final day sets the stage for a dramatic, winner-takes-all series decider in Cape Town next week. It was a remarkable turnaround for the home side, who had previously been blown away by Australia in the opening Test of the series in Durban, where the visitors secured a massive victory. Stung by that early setback, South Africa roared back in style, answering their critics and turning the contest on its head in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Despite losing the entire morning session to a weather washout and being forced to play the latter stages of the match without frontline fast bowler Anrich Nortje, South Africa maintained their composure and discipline. They successfully bowled out Australia for 295 in their second innings, sealing the result just an hour after the afternoon tea break.
The outcome locks the three-match series at 1-1. As a result, the top two sides in the World Test Championship standings will now head to Cape Town for the final showdown starting Tuesday, with the entire deciding Test broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The foundation for South Africa’s recovery in this second Test was laid earlier in the match. World Test Championship holders South Africa had initially rallied brilliantly to pull themselves out of early trouble, eventually securing a commanding position after wrapping up a rain-affected first innings late on day three. That recovery was spearheaded by captain Temba Bavuma, who crafted a magnificent and resilient 149, alongside all-rounder Marco Jansen, who contributed a quickfire and explosive 85 lower down the order.
What followed next was a stunning collapse from the Australian batting lineup. Stunned by the Proteas’ first-innings total, Australia were shot out for a paltry 99 runs in their first turn at the crease, largely undone by a sensational spell of fast bowling from Jansen, who finished with figures of 5-33.
Trailing heavily, Australia were immediately forced to follow on. The chaotic nature of the contest was highlighted further on Wednesday, a chaotic day of cricket that saw a remarkable 13 wickets fall in total. However, the day was not without its concerns for the hosts. South Africa’s fearsome pace attack suffered a significant blow when Nortje pulled up with a suspected groin injury just four overs into his spell, ruling him out from bowling for the remainder of Australia’s second innings and leaving his teammates to shoulder an increased workload.
Australia had resumed their final-day battle on 156-4, still requiring a daunting 170 runs to make South Africa bat again. Hope within the touring camp rested largely on surviving a revised allocation of 81 overs of rearguard action, with established names like Steve Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey holding the key in reserve. However, those hopes quickly began to unravel once the chief obstacle, Travis Head, was finally removed by the bowling attack.
Wiaan Mulder emerged as the chief destroyer for South Africa during the final session. Mulder completely rebounded from a difficult second innings on Wednesday, where he had gone wicketless and leaked runs, by claiming three of the six crucial wickets South Africa needed to secure victory on the fifth and final day. His disciplined and probing spell accounted for century-maker Head, overnight resistance partner Scott Boland, and Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Head had resumed his innings overnight on 87 and successfully went on to register his 13th Test century, bringing up the milestone with his 12th boundary of the innings. Yet, his natural inclination for positive and aggressive strokeplay ultimately brought about his downfall. Facing his 190th delivery, Head chopped a delivery from Mulder onto his stumps to depart for a hard-fought 121, a breakthrough that injected renewed energy into the South African ranks.
The dismissal of Head brought Steve Smith to the crease at number seven—three positions lower than his usual batting spot—after he had sustained a stiff neck during the first innings. Mulder immediately tested the returning batter’s physical limits, greeting Smith with a sharp, probing bouncer on his very first ball.
Smith managed to weather the storm, successfully negotiating the final five overs remaining with the deteriorating old ball. However, his resistance was cut short shortly after the new ball was taken. In the third over of the new allotment, Smith mistimed a pull off pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada. The ball caught the heavy wind swirling around the ground, causing Matthew Breetzke to initially bobble the chance at midwicket before safely clinging to the ball at the second attempt, sending Smith back to the pavilion for a meager score of three.
Meanwhile, Scott Boland continued to frustrate the South African attack alongside Carey. Boland surpassed his previous highest Test score of 21, grinding his way through to 40 by the time the players broke for tea.
His admirable resistance was finally broken shortly after the afternoon resumption when he attempted to play a defensive stroke against a straight delivery from Mulder, only to be beaten between bat and pad and bowled. Boland’s gritty innings had lasted for 166 deliveries for his 40 runs, anchoring the lower order for a significant period.
Captain Pat Cummins fell in quick succession, also becoming a victim of Mulder after briefly finding the boundary rope. Rabada then returned to the bowling crease to shatter Mitchell Starc’s leg stump with a delivery that clipped the batter’s inside edge.
As the light began to fade under increasingly gloomy skies, Jansen put the finishing touches on the victory. He induced a thick edge from Josh Hazlewood, sending the ball cleanly through to Aiden Markram stationed at second slip to spark jubilant celebrations among the South African players and coaching staff.
When the dust settled on a dramatic Test match, the bowling figures reflected a collective team effort. Rabada finished with impressive figures of 4-77, Mulder claimed 3-64, and Jansen rounded out a magnificent all-round performance by taking six wickets in the match overall, cementing his status as one of the standout players of the contest.
The focus now shifts entirely to the Western Cape. The third and final Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town is scheduled to begin on October 27, with coverage broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 7.30am ahead of the first ball at 8.30am.