South Africa sealed victory in the second Test at Gqeberha late on Tuesday. They won by an innings and 31 runs to level the series with one match remaining. Australia made 295 runs in their second innings and got within 28 overs of safety, though they ultimately failed to save the game.
Australia initially let South Africa recover from 40 for four to pass 400 runs, before collapsing for 99 runs and being forced to follow on. On the final day, nightwatcher Scott Boland produced the most substantial innings of his Test career, facing 166 balls and scoring 40 runs to nearly double his previous best.
Boland outlasted century-maker Travis Head and Steve Smith, passing the tea break after an extended session. His innings featured careful front-foot defence, back-foot evasion, and occasional stylish cuts.
At the other end, Travis Head raised his first official away Test hundred. By his standards, it was a sedate 121 runs from 190 balls, and his partnership brought the prospect of a draw into view.
South Africa bowler Mulder broke the resistance by getting a delivery to deck into the gap for the right-hander, beating Boland’s defence. An over later, Mulder removed Pat Cummins after making him play inside the line, finishing with figures of 3 for 64.
Steve Smith showed no sign of the stiff neck that hampered him previously, but fell to an atrocious shot. Trying to pound a pull shot off Kagiso Rabada from outside off stump, Smith hit a catch up in the air.
Mitchell Starc attempted to swing Rabada over the leg side, only to find fresh air and lose his leg stump. Josh Hazlewood then tried a booming drive through cover to nick to slip, stranding Alex Carey on 37 not out.
Marco Jansen claimed the final wicket, while Rabada finished with four wickets for the innings. The match concluded with Australia undone by fundamental failures of decision-making under heavy cloud cover.
For South Africa, the victory is a comeback from their heavy loss in Durban. The series decider takes place next week in Cape Town.
