Persistent wet weather in Gqeberha severely restricted play on Day 2 of the second Test, but Australia’s fast bowlers continued to dictate terms during an extended final session. Following a heavily curtailed opening day that saw only 12.2 overs bowled, morning rain caused further delays. Play finally got underway at 3:45 pm local time—six hours after the scheduled start—following multiple pitch inspections under brightening skies.
Australia operated without seam bowler Josh Hazlewood, who was sidelined due to illness. In his absence, Scott Boland picked up right where he left off after taking two wickets in consecutive balls on Day 1. Boland maintained tight accuracy alongside skipper Pat Cummins, who kept the pressure on South Africa’s top order. Debutant Marques Ackerman, aged 30, became Boland’s third victim of the match when he loosely pushed at a delivery and edged it behind. On occasion, he also kept pushing his partners for quick singles and doubles to cut extended periods of silence.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma offered solid resistance at the other end, displaying confident footwork and precise judgment to leave balls outside his off-stump. However, incoming batter Matthew Breetzke, who was appearing at number five for the first time in his brief Test career, failed to settle. After patiently leaving several deliveries, Breetzke chased a wide ball angled across him from Mitchell Starc’s third delivery of the session and was dismissed cheaply in single digits. In contrast, Bavuma looked assured with his footwork, confidently presenting his defence and leaving deliveries that were out of his range without apparent trouble. Who got off the mark straightaway, played the ideal partner to Bavuma, ryan Rickleton.
Boland remained a constant threat with his wobble-seam deliveries, almost trapping Bavuma lbw with a ball that nipped back into his front pad when the captain was on 18. Bavuma survived the review and steadily accumulated runs, driving well off both front and back foot. He even showcased rare aggression by hooking a head-high bouncer from Cummins over the boundary for six, sending the ball into the adjacent road where a steward had to retrieve it. Bavuma also pushed hard between the wickets to rotate the strike.
Beau Webster stepped into the fourth seamer’s role to offset Hazlewood’s absence. Partnering his captain, Ryan Rickelton showed intent by striking two boundaries off a single Cummins over. Cummins attempted a tactical leg-side strangle using a leg-slip, which nearly paid off when Rickelton glanced a ball toward Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne lost sight of the chance and took the blow to his chest. Unfazed, Rickelton punched a backfoot shot three deliveries later to bring up a 50-run partnership with Bavuma. The keeper stood up to the stumps for Webster, as the shadows lengthened.
Australia broke the key stand late in the day with just two overs remaining. Rickelton offered a late edge off a probing delivery out wide. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey left the chance, allowing Matt Renshaw to react sharply at first slip and pluck a brilliant one-handed catch. Rickelton walked off disappointed for 31. Bavuma remained unbeaten on 41 off 108 balls at the close, with South Africa standing at 97 for 5. Boland ended the day with figures of 4 for 31, while Starc held 1 for 27. Having now faced 108 deliveries for his 41, bavuma still stayed put though.
