South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 after completing victory in the last session on Thursday.
The hosts bowled Australia out for 295, with Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen claiming the final four wickets as the tourists’ resistance finally gave way.
South Africa had appeared to be in serious trouble earlier in the match. Most of the opening two days were lost to rain and they were 110-6 when play resumed on the third morning.
Captain Temba Bavuma then led a remarkable recovery with 179, helping South Africa declare on 425-9 before Australia were dismissed for 99 in their first innings.
Australia were forced to bat again and resumed at 156-4 after rain had wiped out the morning session. Travis Head, unbeaten on 87 overnight, reached 121 before Mulder found the edge of a rising delivery, which chopped on to the stumps.
It was Head’s 13th Test century but only his second outside Australia. His dismissal ended almost 90 minutes of frustration for the home attack and opened the way for South Africa to press for victory as bad weather threatened once more.
Steve Smith made three after coming in at number seven, having struggled with a neck problem during the first innings. He top-edged a pull against Rabada’s second-new-ball delivery to Matthew Breetzke at mid-wicket, who held the catch after initially juggling it.
Scott Boland offered prolonged resistance, facing 166 balls for a Test-best 40. Mulder eventually bowled the nightwatchman through the gate, before Australia captain Pat Cummins was clean bowled for four in the following over after playing down the wrong line.
Rabada returned as dark clouds gathered and immediately removed Mitchell Starc for 11. Jansen then completed the innings when Josh Hazlewood edged the first ball he faced behind to the slips.
Alex Carey was left unbeaten on 37, while Rabada finished with four for 77 on his return from a lengthy injury lay-off. Mulder took three for 64.
“We were scrambling a bit, not sure about the weather and Australia made us work hard for those last six wickets,” Bavuma said.
Cummins acknowledged Australia had fallen short of their best. “I thought we showed some good fight, but it wasn’t quite enough. We were a long way from our best,” he said.
The deciding Test begins at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.
