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Jansen's rapid fifty and Bavuma's vigil drag South Africa past 200 in Gqeberha
South Africa were 110 for 6 when Mitchell Starc struck early on day three. Marco Jansen and Temba Bavuma then added 91 in 101 balls to change the mood of the second Test.
Key points
- Marco Jansen raced to 64 off 58 balls, reaching fifty in 43.
- Jansen and Temba Bavuma added 91 for the seventh wicket to lift South Africa to 201 for 6.
- Mitchell Starc removed Wiaan Mulder for his 450th Test wicket.
Marco Jansen turned the second Test on its head at St George’s Park on Tuesday. With South Africa wobbling at 110 for 6 in the first innings, the left-hander counter-attacked to make 64 off 58 balls, and with captain Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 69, the hosts were 201 for 6 after 67 overs in the afternoon session of day three.
Jansen and Bavuma had put on 91 off 101 balls for the seventh wicket by that point. Jansen reached his half-century in 43 balls, the fourth-quickest Test fifty by a South African at home against Australia.
How the morning went
South Africa resumed on 97 for 5, with Australia firmly on top after Scott Boland’s 4 for 31 on the first two rain-wrecked days. Boland began with a maiden, and Bavuma and Wiaan Mulder edged the total past 100.
Mitchell Starc then struck. Mulder was given not out to a delivery from the left-armer, but Australia reviewed and the decision was overturned. Mulder went for 13 off 38 balls, and the wicket was Starc’s 450th in Tests.
At 110 for 6, Australia would have hoped to bowl South Africa out cheaply and bat long. Jansen had other ideas. He hit Starc for three fours in one over and took eight off the next from Boland, and the runs kept coming.
Bavuma holds the other end
Bavuma, 41 not out overnight, played the anchor. He brought up his own half-century and stayed unbeaten through the stand, giving Jansen the strike and the freedom to attack.
The South Africa team’s social media account summed up Jansen’s knock as “a rapid-fire half-century”.
What it means for the Test
Rain had wiped out most of the first two days, leaving both sides short of time. Officials set out to bowl 98 overs on Tuesday, with an extra 15 minutes added to the final session, and the forecast for the rest of the match is better.
Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning in Durban, so a draw here would still leave them in front going into the final Test. South Africa, by contrast, need to win, and every run Jansen and Bavuma add gives their bowlers a little more to work with when Australia finally bat.