In brief
Temba Bavuma scored 179 and Marco Jansen 85 as South Africa declared on 425-9, after Australia had been dismissed for 99 in their first innings.
Travis Head made 121, his 13th Test century, while Scott Boland faced 166 balls for 40 runs as nightwatchman and held out for a draw that never came.
Only 12.2 of a planned 90 overs were bowled on day one, with 31 more overs on day two.
South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs, and the third Test in Cape Town will decide the three-match series.
- Day oneRain limits play to 12.2 overs of a planned 90
- Day twoAnother 31 overs bowled
- Day three, morningSouth Africa 110-6 when the sun came out
- Day fiveAustralia all out for 295, losing by an innings and 31 runs
Rain delays the start
Rain almost ruled out a result in the second Test at Gqeberha. Only 12.2 of a planned 90 overs were bowled on the first day, and another 31 came on the second. A session was lost again on the final morning. South Africa, who had been heavily beaten in the first Test in Durban, were 110-6 when the sun came out on the morning of the third day, while Australia, who had won the first Test, were looking to build on that result.
Bavuma's innings changes the match
Australia were dismissed for 99 in their first innings, and South Africa replied with 425-9 declared. Temba Bavuma made 179 and Marco Jansen added 85, and Jansen had earlier taken 5-33 on day four. That total gave the hosts a lead large enough to force Australia to follow on. Bavuma reflected on the close call with the weather and the work still left in the match:
“We were scrambling a bit, not sure about the weather and Australia made us work hard for those last six wickets.”
Head and Boland hold out
Travis Head made 121 in Australia's second innings, his 13th Test century and only his second outside Australia. Scott Boland, the nightwatchman, faced 166 balls for 40 runs, and Steve Smith made three at number seven after a neck problem in the first innings. Mulder dismissed Head, bowled Boland and castled captain Pat Cummins. Rabada removed Mitchell Starc, and Jansen finished the innings when Josh Hazlewood was caught in the slips. Across the match Rabada took 4-77 and Mulder 3-64, while Boland returned 5-81 with the ball.
Decider in Cape Town
South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs as the light faded late on the final day, levelling the three-match series 1-1. The win came as the hosts beat looming bad weather to the finish. Anrich Nortje was missing for South Africa with a groin injury. The Telegraph described Australia's batting as fragile, exposed inside 150 overs. The third Test in Cape Town will decide the series.
- Australia, first innings
- 99 runs
- South Africa (declared on 9 wickets)
- 425 runs
- Australia, second innings
- 295 runs
Data from the article text