Bavuma scores 179 as South Africa declare on 425-9 on day three of Second Test in Gqeberha

Captain Temba Bavuma scored 179 to pull South Africa back into the Second Test against Australia in Gqeberha on day three, and the hosts declared on 425-9 with half an hour remaining.

Bavuma batted for 552 minutes across three days to record his highest Test score, bettering his previous top of 172, after South Africa had slipped to 12-2 on day one and 110-6 earlier on day three. He shared partnerships of 132 with Marco Jansen and 183 with number nine Simon Harmer, the latter the best eighth-wicket stand in South African Test history. The century was Bavuma's fifth in Tests and came 10 years after his first, which made him the first Black African to score a Test hundred for the Proteas; he said it was "definitely" one of his best innings. "That bowling attack, at least three are in the top 10 of the bowling rankings," he added. "There is a reason why."

Scoreboard: South Africa 425-9 dec: Bavuma 179, Jansen 85; Boland 5-81. Australia 3-1: Boland 2*; Rabada 1-0. Australia trail by 422 runs. Kagiso Rabada removed Australia opener Nic Maddinson in the first over of the reply, nicking him off to further bolster South Africa's position.

Bavuma was caught behind off Mitchell Starc, a dismissal that prompted South Africa to declare with about 30 minutes left in the day after they had resisted doing so earlier in the session; Harmer had been bowled by Marnus Labuschagne a ball before Bavuma's wicket. With the floodlights on and the skies dark, conditions were described as prime for seam bowling when Australia's reply began.

Maddinson lasted only four deliveries before nicking one to third slip, after which the umpires judged the light too poor for seam and, following three overs of spin with the new ball, play was halted for the day. Bavuma acknowledged the timing of the declaration: "There was thought of that," Bavuma said. "I was a little hesitant because of the weather. "If we [had declared] a bit early we would have got one or two more overs. Saying that we got the one we wanted. "Right now I hope things go our way and we set ourselves to be on the field for the majority of those two days."

Only 42 overs were possible across the first two days of the Test, leaving South Africa with an outside chance of forcing a result across days four and five by dismissing Australia cheaply and enforcing the follow-on. Bavuma noted the opportunity ahead: "We have given ourselves a chance," Bavuma said. "There is the other side of the draw but going into [the third Test in] Cape Town whatever the confidence we can get here, being able to put their bowlers on their feet for a considerable amount of time, hopefully that can pay off in the long run." He has now recorded four centuries in 14 Tests as South Africa captain and averages 54.36 as Test skipper, compared with 34.53 across 93 innings before taking the reins.

South Africa will need to dismiss Australia quickly over the remaining two days to pursue victory and, depending on the outcome here, carry whatever confidence they can into the third Test in Cape Town.