Results of the Second Day of the Third Test between Proteas and Australia

The Protea team delivered an impressive performance against Australia at Centurion Park in Gqeberha, managing to level the series at 1-1 ahead of the final match in Cape Town next week.

The Thami Bavuma led team secured a victory over Australia by one innings and 31 runs.

After a heavy defeat in Durban, South Africa needed more than just an improved game; they required resilience, character, and decisive performances under pressure. Thami Bavuma, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Vian Mulder provided exactly that.

Rabada (4/77) and Harmer put pressure on Australia during the second innings, but the crucial breakthroughs were provided by Mulder in both the first and second sessions.

Mulder (3/64) finally managed to dismiss the tenacious Scott Boland, after this batsman withstood 166 deliveries, scoring 40 runs. Boland's resistance ended when Mulder slipped past his stubborn defense.

Immediately after this, the all-rounder celebrated another success when he dismissed Australian captain Pat Cummins, putting Protea on the verge of victory.

However, it was Rabada who achieved a clean bowling spell against Mitchell Starc, followed by Jansen delivering the decisive blow when the last batsman Josh Hazlewood edged the ball behind Aiden Markram in the second slot.

Bavuma deserves great praise for leading the team, while Jansen's all-round contribution highlighted his growing status as one of the world's best all-rounders in Test matches.

Now Protea heads to Newlands with increased confidence in their attempt to win the series consecutively against the Australians on home soil.

The fourth day of the match at St George's Park proved tense and action-packed, during which the Proteas team completely dominated, forcing Australia to fight for survival with a score of 156/4 in the second innings (trailing by 170 runs) after having to agree to a follow-on.

Marco Jansen demonstrated his mastery, concluding the rout of the Australian team in the first innings. In addition to previously distinguishing himself with a wrist shot, scoring 85 runs, Jansen led the South African team's attack with the ball.

This left-arm fast bowler took 5/33 in Australia's first innings, dismantling the opposition's middle order through relentless pace and sharp bounce. In his morning session, he removed the dangerous Travis Head, and then before lunch, twice in three balls, dismissed the dangerous Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey.

Holding a huge advantage of 326 runs after Proteas finished destroying Australia's last four wickets for only 30 runs after lunch, Temba Bavuma insisted on a follow-on without hesitation. Kagiso Rabada marked the milestone by taking his 200th Test wicket on home soil in Australia's first innings when he dismissed Mitchell Starc. While Wiaan Mulder helped the team by taking two crucial wickets, including a major success against Steve Smith for 28 runs shortly after the former Australian captain surpassed 11,000 Test runs.

The day was not without losses for both teams. Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje felt pain in his groin in the fourth over of the morning session and could not continue bowling for the day, which was a serious blow to South Africa's workload management. Meanwhile, the Australian batting lineup was changed in the second innings as Steve Smith dropped down the order due to constant neck strain that prevented him from playing in his usual fourth position.

Australia faced difficulties at the start of the second innings when Rabada dismissed Nick Maddinson for 8 runs. However, Travis Head (87*) and Marnus Labuschagne (39) showed commendable resilience, building a solid partnership of 92 runs to slow down the Proteas. Head helped Australia resist throughout the day and evening, scoring a half-century in the struggle and counter-attacking under the darkening sky and strong wind.

Just when it seemed Australia was ready to bat all day, the South African bowlers delivered decisive blows before sunset. Off-spinner Simon Harmer broke up a dangerous partnership by dismissing Labuschagne, and later caught Bo Bubster on a legitimate delivery for 8 runs. Meanwhile, Rabada returned to bowl against Matt Renshaw, who scored 11 runs. When Australia approached 156/4, still trailing by 170 runs, and night watchman Scott Boland prepared to continue the game on Thursday morning with Head.

South Africa needs a six-wicket victory on Thursday to secure a remarkable win in this second Test match at St George's Park. Although they would have preferred to be further ahead during the game after forcing a replay in the middle of the second session, they remain leaders in this second Test match.

The main reason for this is the fiery morning session, during which Australia was dismissed for only 99 runs. The events that unfolded on the field were almost unbelievable, as the world's best Test team capitulated dramatically.

The main destroyer was Marco Jansen, who took 5/33, marking his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests, as well as his crucial 85 runs with the bat shown on Tuesday. Two wickets each also helped from Vian Mulder (2/14) and the returning Kagiso Rabada (2/33).

This left Australia 326 runs behind, and they faced a huge task if they wanted to save the match. The difficulty increased after Rabada dismissed Nick Maddinson for the second time with a new ball, following Temba Bavuma's unwavering decision to replay.

However, Proteas faced a serious hurdle in Australia's first innings when Heinrich Nortje came out with a suspected groin injury in the sixteenth over. But this did not stop South Africa's pursuit of a series-leveling victory.

Travis Head played an unusually restrained innings but fought fiercely, scoring 87 runs without being dismissed. For a while, he was accompanied by Marnus Labuschagne, and the pair added 92 runs for the second wicket before the Khlerksdorp batter himself caused his downfall.

Labuschagne, whose future in Tests will now face even closer scrutiny before Cape Town, attempted to hit Simon Harmer (2/47) over the boundary. In what could be described as a lapse in concentration, especially considering the gusty wind, Labuschagne offered Jansen an easy catch deep in the field. This tall all-rounder, who previously dismissed Head for five runs in the gallway, easily reached the field to complete the catch.

After this, Australia's fight continued. Rabada returned to bowl Mattie Renshaw, and Harmer caught Beau Webster right near the boundary rope. Proteas now has three sessions to seal the deal on Thursday, weather permitting, which would mark a remarkable turn of events given their position after two and a half days of this Test.

Score

2nd Test, Day 4, End of Play

South Africa: 425/9 declared

Australia: 99 (Jansen 5/33) and 156/4 (Head 87*, Labuschagne 39, Rabada 2/30, Harmer 2/47)

Australia trails by 170