South Africa level series with innings-and-31-run win over Australia in Gqeberha

South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs to level the series in the second Test at Gqeberha on day five, forcing a deciding third Test next week in Cape Town.

Australia had made 295 and reduced the final day's allocation after a washed-out morning session cut the scheduled 98 overs to 82, but South Africa sealed victory deep into the last day; letting South Africa escape from 40 for four to pass 400 preceded Australia’s collapse for 99 and the enforced follow-on.

Scott Boland, who had been the standout with the ball while others struggled, also played a prominent role with the bat: he took the nightwatch duties briefly on the fourth morning, returned overnight to take Australia to stumps at 156 for four, and then produced the most substantial innings of his Test career on day five, facing a personal best 166 balls for 40 runs — nearly doubling his previous best.

Travis Head produced a century, scoring 121 from 190 balls with several carved boundaries through the off side; it was described as his first official hundred in an away Test, his World Test Championship final ton against India at the Oval in 2023 having been defined as neutral in venue.

Wiaan Mulder, described in the report as the shortest, least rapid and least celebrated of South Africa’s pace options, operated with a simple plan — "hit the seam, wait for jag" — and delivered 3 for 64, including a dismissal of Pat Cummins, a return that the piece credits with winning the match.

Kagiso Rabada finished the innings with four wickets; Marco Jansen took the final wicket. The report records several ill-judged shots from Australia: Steve Smith "torpedoed his brief innings with an atrocious shot, trying to pound a pull shot off Rabada from outside off stump, hitting a catch up in the air," Mitchell Starc "losing leg stump" attempting to swing Rabada over the leg side, and Josh Hazlewood nicking to slip and leaving Alex Carey 37 not out.

With only a small number of overs remaining and heavy cloud moving in, the piece states the match could have been saved with more application from one or two players. South Africa’s win is described as a comeback from their heavy loss at Durban and sets up the series decider in Cape Town next week.