Scott Boland takes four wickets as rain delays second Test at Gqeberha
On 19 October 2026, in the second Test at Gqeberha, Scott Boland finished the second day with four wickets as South Africa were 97 for 5 and play was repeatedly interrupted by rain.
A wet outfield delayed the start until late afternoon; play resumed at 3:45pm, six hours after the planned start. Once the surface had dried enough, Boland returned to complete the over he had begun the previous day, sending down four balls in which Temba Bavuma drove one to the boundary. Boland had already dismissed Aiden Markram and David Bedingham on day one, and his length continued to trouble the South African batters.
Seven deliveries into day two Boland added Marques Ackerman to his tally. Ackerman, a left-handed opener making his first-class opening appearance, had been circumspect on debut, facing 32 balls for five runs on day one and then waiting 27 hours before facing balls 33 to 38. That was as far as he progressed: he was caught behind for 6 to a fuller-length delivery from Boland.
Matthew Breetzke, who has opened domestically, might have been a more conventional choice at the top, while Ryan Rickelton had opened in the previous Test at Durban. For this match Rickelton was pushed into the middle order and Breetzke was brought in from outside the squad. Breetzke lasted only briefly, nicking a back-foot punch to Mitchell Starc and falling for 4 as South Africa slipped to four down for 40.
Rickelton and Bavuma steadied the innings through a testing spell, surviving sustained short and angled bowling. Pat Cummins bowled over the wicket into Bavuma’s ribcage more than once, targeting the short ball. Rickelton was fortunate when a glance to leg slip was stopped by Marnus Labuschagne, who chested the ball to the ground rather than taking the catch. Bavuma, using his relative lack of height to handle the short deliveries, hooked one into the street outside St George’s Park and finished the day on 41 not out; Rickelton drove Cummins for four to bring up a fifty partnership.
In the final four overs of the day Boland returned and Rickelton’s reprieve ended. The delivery was not as full as his earlier wicket-taking balls, just wide enough to leave but capable of seaming either way, and it seamed away; Alex Carey allowed the edge to pass but Matt Renshaw at first slip took a one-handed catch just above the turf. Boland finished with figures of 4 for 31 and Rickelton made 31.
Josh Hazlewood missed the half-day’s play with illness. Australia’s plan will be for him to return for a four-bowler squeeze, constricting the first-innings score before they bat into enough of a lead through the fourth day that they can push for a win, a strategy that will require them to overcome Kagiso Rabada, who took 11 wickets the last time these teams played here.