South Africa levelled their three-match Test series against Australia at 1-1 on Thursday, beating the visitors by an innings and 31 runs at St George's Park. The match had been badly affected by rain, with the first two days ruined, and South Africa were in trouble on the third morning after being sent in to bat.
An innings win means the winning side scored more in its one innings than the opponent managed across both of its innings combined. Australia's two innings totalled 394 runs (99 plus 295), against South Africa's 425, so the margin was 31 runs.
What happened on the field
South Africa were 110-6 on the third morning before captain Temba Bavuma put together match-changing partnerships with Marco Jansen (85) and Simon Harmer (82). Bavuma's career-best 179 earned him the man-of-the-match award, and South Africa declared on 425-9. A declaration means the batting side ends its innings voluntarily, while it still has wickets in hand.
Australia were bowled out for 99 in their first innings, with the tall left-armer Jansen taking 5-33. They were then made to bat again straight away, the follow-on, and they resisted well before being bowled out for 295. Travis Head scored 121, and Scott Boland, sent in as a nightwatchman, a late-order batter used to protect the specialists, batted until after tea on Thursday. Rain delayed play before lunch, and more rain was threatening when Jansen took the final wicket after the last drinks break.
Reactions from both captains
Bavuma credited his side's focus and said the aim with the bat had been to extend the innings, so that another hour became a session. He said the bowlers had been asked to be more ruthless when chances came, describing the approach as “good old Test cricket”. He also said he did not want to get too excited, because there was still another match to play.
Australian captain Pat Cummins said the fight shown by Head and Boland was a “blueprint” for the third Test. He said that across the board his side had not contributed enough on Thursday, and that the opposition had class bowlers. Cummins described the match as almost a reverse of the first Test in Durban, which Australia won, and said the series was at one-all, close to what he had expected.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Before the second Test: Australia won the first Test in Durban.
- First two days of the second Test: rain ruined play.
- Third morning: South Africa were 110-6 after being sent in to bat.
- Thursday: rain delayed play before lunch, and South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs.
- Final Test: due to start in five days, Bavuma said.
Aasan alfaaz mein
South Africa ne Australia ko St George's Park mein ek innings aur 31 runs se haraya. Is jeet se Test series 1-1 se barabar ho gayi hai. Temba Bavuma ne career ka behtareen 179 score banaya. Aakhri Test paanch din baad shuru hoga.
