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South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs to level series despite Head's century
Wiaan Mulder took three wickets on a rain-shortened final day at St George's Park as Australia were bowled out for 295 following on, setting up a decider at Newlands from Tuesday.
Key points
- South Africa won the second Test by an innings and 31 runs to make the series 1-1.
- Travis Head made 121, his 13th Test hundred, but Australia were out for 295.
- The third Test starts at Newlands on 27 October.
South Africa completed a remarkable turnaround at St George’s Park on Thursday, bowling Australia out for 295 in their follow-on to win the second Test by an innings and 31 runs and level the three-match series at 1-1.
Australia, who won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, had hoped to bat out a rain-hit final day. Travis Head gave them a chance with 121 off 190 balls, his 13th Test century, but once he was bowled by Wiaan Mulder the innings came apart. Marco Jansen ended it when Josh Hazlewood edged to Aiden Markram at slip for a duck, at about 7:30 pm IST.
Mulder’s day
The morning session was washed out, and South Africa had to work without Anrich Nortje, who had left the field with a groin problem earlier in the match and did not bowl in the second innings. Mulder took up the slack. He bowled Head with Australia on 209 for 5, then broke a stubborn stand by bowling nightwatchman Scott Boland, who had faced 166 balls for 40, and knocked over Pat Cummins for 4.
Kagiso Rabada did the rest of the damage. Steve Smith, playing with a neck injury, top-edged a Rabada bouncer to Matthew Breetzke for 3, and Mitchell Starc was bowled for 11. Rabada finished with 4 for 77 and six wickets in the match. Alex Carey was left unbeaten on 37.
From 110 for 6 to an innings win
The result was built on the first three days. Australia chose to bowl and had South Africa at 110 for 6 before captain Temba Bavuma made 179, his highest Test score. He added 132 with Jansen and 183 with Simon Harmer as the home side reached 425 for 9 declared. Jansen then took 5 for 33 as Australia were rolled for 99.
Bavuma was named player of the match. “We play good old Test cricket, you know, try and wear the opposition down,” he said of his side’s approach.
Cummins did not look for excuses. “We were a long way away from our best,” the Australia captain said. “Across the board just not enough of us contributed.” He singled out Boland and Head for doing their jobs on the last day.
The decider
The win earns South Africa 12 World Test Championship points, with Australia getting none. The teams move to Newlands in Cape Town for the third and final Test, which begins on Tuesday, 27 October. Australia will be watching Smith’s neck closely, and South Africa will need news on Nortje’s groin.