South Africa Beat Australia to Square Series Ahead of Final Test

The victory sets up a deciding final Test in Cape Town after a century from Temba Bavuma and Travis Head shaped a dramatic match.

South Africa sealed a dominant victory over Australia on day five in Gqeberha, bowling out the tourists for 295 in their second innings to secure an innings and 31-run win. The result squares the three-match series at 1-1 and forces a winner-takes-all decider at Newlands.

Marco Jansen Takes Five Wickets in Australia Collapse

The match turned decisively during Australia’s first innings when the batting lineup collapsed to 99 all out in 42.3 overs. Marco Jansen spearheaded the demolition with figures of 5/33, earning a place alongside Dale Steyn as the only South African players since readmission to score a half-century and take five wickets in a single Test against Australia.

Faced with a substantial deficit, South Africa enforced the follow-on. Australia mounted stern resistance in their second turn at the crease, aided by rain that wiped out the first session on the final day. Alex Carey also offered resistance by finishing unbeaten on 37. Wiaan Mulder played a crucial hand by bowling with accuracy and finding movement off the pitch to remove Head, Boland, and Australia captain Pat Cummins, while Kagiso Rabada finished with 4-77 as the bowling attack ultimately dismissed the visitors for 295 in 107.1 overs.

Temba Bavuma’s Epic Century Rescues the Proteas

South Africa’s recovery stands out as the turning point of the fixture. After slumping to 40-4 and then 110/6 in their first innings following a heavy defeat in Durban, Temba Bavuma anchored an extraordinary fightback. Bavuma struck a brilliant 179 to help his side reach 425/9 before declaring, supported by Jansen’s aggressive 85 from 100 balls—which included nine fours and three sixes—and Simon Harmer adding 82 off 157 deliveries.

He is doing that. We need to turn those 30s into bigger scores. He knows that.

Pat Cummins

The total completely shifted momentum in the contest. Australia’s second-innings resistance finally cracked in the fading light of the final session when Rabada and Mulder broke through the lower order, leaving Jansen to take the final wicket and seal victory as the light faded late on the last day.

Australia Suffer Fifth Test Loss at St George's Park

It also extends a dismal run at St George’s Park, marking their fifth loss at the venue—making Gqeberha only the second ground outside England where Australia have lost five Tests, joining Karachi, with the team having secured no Test victories at the ground since 1997.