Bavuma 179 leads South Africa to innings win over Australia in Gqeberha; series level 1-1
South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 34 runs in the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on October 22, 2026, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Temba Bavuma’s career-best 179 anchored a recovery from 97 for 5 as the hosts declared on 425 for 9 before bowling Australia out for 99 and 295.
South Africa looked in serious trouble when they were 97 for 5 at the close of the second day, but a substantial middle-order recovery produced the match-defining total of 425 for 9 declared. Australia were dismissed for 99 in their first innings and forced to follow on — only the third time they have followed on since 1988. The result came after South Africa’s loss in Durban, providing an immediate reversal of fortunes at St George’s Park.
Rain washed out the first session on the final day and play began at noon; Travis Head then pressed Australia’s cause with a century, reaching 100 off 151 balls. Head brought up his hundred with two boundaries in three deliveries against Marco Jansen — a flick between deep square leg and fine leg, then a whip past mid-on — and it was his second Test century overseas, his 163 in the 2023 World Test Championship final being the first, as well as his first against South Africa and fourth as an opener in Tests.
Wiaan Mulder removed Head when the batter edged a wobble-seam delivery that bottom-edged onto the stumps, a dismissal that followed New-ball pressure and wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton standing up to the stumps. Mulder’s spell was particularly important with Anrich Nortje having limped off with a groin injury the previous day, and all three of Mulder’s final-day dismissals came as batters were cramped for room.
Steven Smith, promoted to No. 7 because of neck problems the previous day, survived an initial bouncer from Mulder but was soon caught at midwicket off Kagiso Rabada after a thick edge fell to Matthew Breetzke, who completed the catch after a nervy juggle. Strong winds at St George’s Park saw the ball hang in the air on that catch, and Bavuma watched from the field as Breetzke held on.
Scott Boland provided stubborn resistance for Australia, having been used as a nightwatcher twice and already claiming 5 for 81 with the ball earlier in the match; he and Head put on a half-century partnership while Boland produced several well-timed drives and an upper cut over the slips. An unusual umpiring moment occurred when Arno Jacobs called a no-ball after Bavuma moved so close at silly point that his hand was on the pitch when Simon Harmer delivered; Boland was on strike at the time.
Mulder found the breakthrough that ended Boland’s innings when a delivery nipped back to hit the stumps, then moved the ball the other way to beat Pat Cummins’ outside edge before knocking over off stump. Rabada struck with his first over back when Mitchell Starc swung across the line and lost his wicket, Alex Carey briefly found the boundary, and the match concluded when Josh Hazlewood slashed Marco Jansen to slip with more than 28 overs remaining, Jansen finishing the match with a telling contribution with both bat and ball.
The series is now tied 1-1 and the three-match contest moves to Newlands in Cape Town for the deciding Test.
