Australia dismissed for 99 in Gqeberha as South Africa close in on second Test win

Australia were dismissed for 99 in Gqeberha on day four of the second Test, were forced to follow on and were 156 for four in their second innings at stumps, still 170 runs behind South Africa and leaving the home side in sight of victory.

The collapse to 99 came a day after South Africa posted more than 400 in their first innings, producing a lead of 326 that forced Australia to follow on halfway through day four. The tourists’ top order has now recorded several low-score collapses against South Africa in recent memory, with previous innings totals of 47 all out in 2011 and 85 all out in Hobart in 2016 cited in the match report. Nic Maddinson’s first-innings stay lasted four balls on the third evening; his second-innings stint ended shortly after lunch the following day.

Marco Jansen finished with five for 33 as he and Kagiso Rabada bowled with pace and repeatedly beat edges by pitching the ball up, while Anrich Nortje’s early burst was curtailed by a groin strain after just 3.3 overs. Alex Carey and Beau Webster edged rising deliveries to Jansen as the seamer completed his five-wicket haul, and Rabada took multiple wickets across his spells, including one that removed Mitchell Starc.

Marnus Labuschagne struggled with footwork before edging Anrich Nortje to Simon Harmer in the slips, and Matthew Renshaw was beaten by a ball that reared and was bowled. Steve Smith reached 28 and became the dozenth player to pass 11,000 Test runs but later revealed a neck problem that made it hard to turn his head; Wiaan Mulder trapped him with a nip-backer. Pat Cummins attempted a slog and was caught in the deep.

With South Africa 326 ahead and a session and a half remaining, captain Temba Bavuma elected to bowl again rather than bat further; that decision was taken despite Nortje’s early exit with a groin issue. In Australia’s follow-on innings Maddinson lasted 10 balls and struck two fours before nicking one to Rabada, while Travis Head and Labuschagne initially gave Australia hope by advancing the score.

Head and Labuschagne had taken the score past Australia’s first-innings total with the loss of just one wicket, and Labuschagne reached 39—surpassing a recent low score of 37—before attempting a shot over leg and offering a catch in the deep. Rabada’s delivery that bowled Renshaw came in sharply from around the wicket; Harmer also trapped Webster for eight with an off-break that straightened. Scott Boland was sent out to perform nightwatch duties.

Any chance of an Australia escape on the final day will depend on Steve Smith, Alex Carey and Travis Head, who resumed on 87. The visitors must make significant second-innings contributions from those players if they are to avert defeat in the second Test.