Bavuma scores 179 as South Africa recover to 425 for nine declared on Day 3 at St George's Park
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma made a career-best 179 to spearhead a lower-order recovery as the hosts declared on 425 for nine on the third day of the second Test at St George's Park on Tuesday.
South Africa resumed the day at 97 for five after two rain-affected days in which only 43 overs were bowled and, under sunny skies on a flat pitch, Bavuma combined patience with timely attacking shots to steer his side away from another precarious position following last week's 214-run defeat in Durban.
Bavuma's 179 was his highest Test score and included two record stands: a 132-run seventh-wicket partnership with Marco Jansen that broke a South African record dating back to 1896, and a 183-run eighth-wicket stand with Simon Harmer, the highest eighth-wicket partnership for South Africa in Tests; Jansen finished with 85 and Harmer made a career-best 82.
The morning session produced an early setback when Wiaan Mulder fell for 13 to Mitchell Starc, a dismissal that saw Starc reach 450 Test wickets; Mulder ducked into a short-pitched delivery and gloved it to Matt Renshaw at slip, a decision confirmed after a review.
Jansen joined Bavuma with South Africa still under pressure and counter-attacked while Bavuma absorbed the bowling, bringing up his century from 226 balls as the pair gradually shifted momentum on a surface where batters did not always feel settled.
The second new ball ended the Jansen partnership when Scott Boland struck Jansen on the lower midriff with his first delivery and, four balls later after treatment, Jansen chipped a catch to Travis Head at midwicket; Boland finished the innings with five for 81, his third five-wicket haul and his first outside Australia.
Harmer continued the rebuild alongside Bavuma before being bowled by part-time left-armer Marnus Labuschagne while seeking more runs in fading light, and Bavuma was out next ball, edging Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey; South Africa declared with only a handful of overs left in the day.
Kagiso Rabada, making his return after a five-month hamstring layoff, required four deliveries to dismiss opener Nic Maddinson, who edged to Harmer at third slip, but Rabada was kept to one over as the light deteriorated and three further overs of spin were bowled before stumps, leaving Australia 3 for one with Travis Head unbeaten on one and nightwatchman Scott Boland on two as South Africa seek to build on the momentum and keep the series alive.
