South Africa achieved a historic victory in the rain-affected second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, defeating Australia by an innings and 31 runs to level the series. The hosts dominated the final stages of the match, marking the first time since 1970 that South Africa has beaten Australia after enforcing a follow-on. This triumph also stands as just the fourth time the Proteas have recorded an innings win against Australia. The first phase was all about survival for Australia. He also slapped and sliced deliveries with extra width past point.
Australia’s resistance on the final day was defined by Scott Boland, who faced 166 balls in a resilient effort. Having arrived at the crease the previous evening as a nightwatchman to partner Travis Head, Boland’s role expanded into a vital defensive shift on day five. His defiance was eventually broken by Wiaan Mulder, whose delivery nipped back to beat his defense and strike the stumps. Perfectly missing his defence to rattle his stumps, boland’s 166-ball resistance ended when Mulder nipped one into him. Dead-batting 23 balls for two runs by stumps, the 37-year-old Boland had come in the previous evening to partner Head with Australia in a bit of strife. But his duties as a nightwatch turned into a full-fledged responsibility on Day 5. Simon Harmer had a crowd around Boland to entice an edge. Head, already on the cusp of a century going into the final day, ticked past that landmark. Boland’s block-a-thon had some lively moments too. Temba Bavuma, in the distance, had his back turned, hoping it wasn’t a spill. Boland then joined forces with Alex Carey to push the visitors into the final session.
The match was heavily impacted by weather, with rain consuming much of the first two days and disrupting the first session of the final day. This delay hindered South Africa’s ability to utilize the second new ball, especially while navigating the absence of injured pacer Anrich Nortje. Despite the conditions, Kagiso Rabada remained a persistent threat, bowling with extreme accuracy.
Travis Head anchored the Australian lineup, reaching his second overseas Test century—his first in more than three years—before he eventually chopped a delivery from Mulder onto his own stumps.
The Proteas capitalized on this breakthrough, with Rabada taking the new ball shortly after. Steve Smith, batting at No.7 due to a neck injury, fell to a bizarre top-edge while attempting to hook a wide bouncer from Rabada, which was safely held by Matthew Breetzke.
The momentum remained firmly with the hosts as Mulder added to his tally by dismissing Pat Cummins, with a delivery that escaped the outside edge to hit the top of off stump. As dark clouds gathered, the tension increased, but play continued. Rabada secured a crucial scalp by removing Mitchell Starc with a full delivery, and Marco Jansen finished the match by inducing a catch from Josh Hazlewood in the slips. And with a slip cordon, he pulled off an audacious ramp, against Rabada. Bowling with the keeper up, and seaming it off a pitch that also had the odd sharp turn for spinners, but it was trumped by Mulder’s nagging accuracy.
The final summary saw South Africa declare at 425/9. Australia posted 99 in their first innings and 295 in their follow-on attempt. Travis Head top-scored with 121, while Boland contributed 40. Kagiso Rabada finished with impressive figures of 4-77, and Wiaan Mulder claimed 3-64, orchestrating a dramatic turnaround for the South African side. Down to eight, Australia were quickly seeing their hopes fade away.
