Bavuma's 179 puts South Africa in control of second Test at Gqeberha

Temba Bavuma scored 179 in Gqeberha on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as South Africa recovered to seize control of the second Test against Australia. The hosts declared on 425-9 and removed a wicket before stumps after coming back from 110-6 in the third day's morning session.

Bavuma, 36, had been sent to the crease when South Africa were 12-2 on Sunday’s rain-restricted opening day, when only an hour's play was possible, and he resumed his innings on Monday as the ball moved around after the wet weather relented. South Africa had slipped to 97-5 by the close of the second day before the third-day recovery. The performance answered the heavy defeat they suffered in last week’s first Test. A photograph accompanying the coverage showed South Africa's captain playing a shot on day three in Gqeberha, South Africa, on October 20, 2026 (Photo Credit: AP).

“I walked into a tricky situation,” he told reporters. “I think everything was in the bowlers’ favour: the conditions overhead, the wicket itself. We’d just lost two early wickets, but ordinarily I’ve found myself in those situations quite many times and I guess it seems to bring out the best in me.”

The sun appeared on Tuesday after two rain-affected days and the pitch flattened out, offering batters considerably more assistance, although Bavuma insisted conditions were not as easy as they might have seemed. “With the quality of the bowling attack, they're still able to put you under pressure, even when the ball is slightly softer and older,” he said. “I think from a mindset point of view, for me, nothing really changed.”

Bavuma, who has overcome a long-standing elbow injury, surpassed his previous highest Test score and was involved in two record stands. He added 132 with Marco Jansen, who scored 85, to set a South African seventh-wicket record at St George’s Park. He then put on a national-record 183 for the eighth wicket with number nine Simon Harmer, who made a Test career-best 82.

“They put a heavy price on their wickets and part of our plan was to keep Australia in the field for as long as we could. It all went according to plan,” Bavuma added, and Australia will resume at 3–1 at the start of day four.