Gqeberha Test: Bavuma stands tall as SA hammers Australia in comeback for the ages

Scores in brief: South Africa (425 for 9 decl) beat Australia (99 and 295) by an innings and 34 runs in the second Test to level the three-match series 1-1.

South Africa were looking down and out at 97 for 5 on the 3rd day. Two days later, they had Australia on the ropes and celebrated one of their most impressive Test victories, winning by an innings and 31 runs at Gqeberha. Temba Bavuma’s career-best 179 sparked a turnaround before Wiaan Mulder and Kagiso Rabada cruised through Australia on the final day to seal victory. The series is now level and the decider is set for Cape Town.

Australia looked firmly in control as South Africa stumbled to 97 for 5 at the end of the second day. But Bavuma put up a remarkable fight while the hosts piled up 425 for 9, turning the match on its head. Their bowlers then dismissed Australia for just 99, forcing the visitors to watch for only the third time since 1988.

Australia showed more resistance in their second innings, with Travis Head scoring a century and Scott Boland stumping to thwart the hosts. But South Africa continued to press and once Mulder removed Head, the visitors began to lose control of the contest.

The end came with more than 28 overs remaining in the day when Josh Hazlewood cut Marco Jansen to slip with dark clouds gathering over St George’s Park. Jansen had the final say in a match that highlighted his value with both bat and ball. After their defeat in Durban, South Africa could hardly have asked for a more emphatic response.

MULDER ENDS HEAD’S HEROICS

Play on the final day was postponed until midday after morning showers washed out the first session. When the action finally resumed, Head continued to give Australia hopebring up his century from 151 balls.

The left-hander reached the milestone with two boundaries in three deliveries against Jansen. First came a neatly timed flick between deep square leg and fine leg, followed by a whip around mid off. However, the celebrations were muted and Head was well aware that he still had a mountain to climb in Australia.

It was only his second Test century overseas, following his 163 in the World Test Championship final in 2023. The hundred was also his first against South Africa and fourth as a starter in Test cricket.

South Africa needed a breakthrough before Head could take the game away from them. With the new ball just five overs away, Mulder rounded the wicket and edged the Australian for a spot. Head could only manage the bottom edge of his stumps, bringing a frustrating end to an innings that kept Australia’s hopes alive.

He stood motionless for a moment, seemingly unable to believe how he had been released. Playing the ball onto his own stumps has become an unwanted feature of his recent innings and this time it proved costly for Australia.

Mulder’s contribution was particularly important given that South Africa were already without Anrich Nortje, who limped off the previous day with a groin injury. Mulder relied on a swinging seam aimed at the stumps, while wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton lined up against the stumps to prevent the Australian batsmen from using their legs freely. All three of Mulder’s dismissals in the final day came when the batters were tight.

RABADA WINS SMITH DUEL

Head’s departure relegated Steven Smith to the wicket at No.7, his lowest position in a Test since 2014, when he also batted so deep in the order for Gqeberh. Neck problems the previous day forced Australia to move their former skipper further down the order.

Mulder wasted little time in testing Smith and greeted him with a bouncer that flew past Rickelton who was standing up to the stumps. Smith survived, but never looked completely comfortable. On Mulder’s next power play, he kicked the ball sharply and Rickelton couldn’t keep the chance.

Rabada ensured that South Africa did not have to wait long for another opportunity. Smith faced the second fast bowler’s first ball with the new ball, went to pull and aimed for the leg side.

Matthew Breetzke eventually held on at midwicket after some nervous juggling and completed the catch that took South Africa another step closer to victory. Gale force winds swirled around St George’s Park adding to the drama as the ball hung in the air.

Bavuma could barely bring himself to look. The South Africa captain turned towards the stands as the ball went up, only to see Breetzke complete the catch. Smith’s dismissal has left Australia in deeper trouble, with South Africa firmly in control.

BOLAND SOUTH AFRICA IS COMING

Boland proved a stubborn obstacle all morning. He was used as night watchman twice during the Test and also took 5 for 81 with the ball. As Australia battled to stay alive, he showed impressive discipline, comfortably surpassing his previous longest Test innings in terms of balls faced.

He defended with confidence and was ready to wait for something to break free. Even after Boland appeared to improve his left shoulder while playing a powerful square drive, he continued to frustrate the hosts. He developed a top cut through the slips and played some well-timed drives which helped him and Head put together a half-century partnership.

His innings also featured an unusual umpire’s moment. Arno Jacobs, deputizing for the ill Chris Gaffaney during the match, called a no-ball after Bavuma foolishly got so close that Simon Harmer’s hand was on the pitch when he delivered the ball. Boland was on strike when the incident took place.

South Africa finally found a way at the start of the final session. Mulder produced a delivery that clipped back between bat and pad and hit Boland’s stumps to end an innings built on patience and stubborn resistance. It was the kind of delivery that Boland, a seam specialist himself, would have appreciated.

Mulder didn’t stop there. He then moved the ball to the other side to beat the outside edge of Pat Cummins before hitting the off stump. Two quick wickets left Australia with little room to recover and South Africa were suddenly within touching distance of a result that was far from certain just two days ago.

JANSEN FINISHES

Rabada came back into the attack and hit his first over the back, with Mitchell Starc flying over the line to lose the wicket. Australia’s resistance was waning and South Africa sensed the end was near.

As the floodlights came on, Alex Carey briefly threatened to delay the inevitable by finding a boundary. But the postponement did not last. Hazlewood was left exposed at the start of the next over and cut a delivery from Jansen to slip to end the match.

It was a fitting finish for Jansen, who contributed significantly during the match. South Africa were pushed to the brink early in the match but Bavuma’s excellent innings saw them claw their way back before the bowlers took over.

Mulder’s breakthroughs on the final day, Rabada’s dismissal of Smith and Jansen’s crucial last wicket rounded off a fine team effort. Not only did South Africa recover from a difficult position, they also forced Australia to continue before ending the match with time running out.

The result was an emphatic response to their defeat in Durban. The series now heads to the iconic Newlands in Cape Town for the decider, with South Africa following a turnaround that few would have predicted at the end of day two.

– The end