South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs to level Test series

South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test in Gqeberha. The result levels the three-match series at 1-1. Australia won the first Test, in Durban. The third and deciding Test, in Cape Town, begins on Tuesday. According to Al Jazeera, it will be played at Newlands.

Al Jazeera reported that the match was played at St George's Park and ended on Thursday. It also reported that rain washed out most of the first two days.

South Africa were 40-4 and later 110-6 in their first innings. Captain Temba Bavuma scored 179, and South Africa declared on 425-9. According to BBC Sport, Marco Jansen scored 85 and Scott Boland took 5-81 for Australia.

Australia were bowled out for 99 and were made to follow on. BBC Sport reported that Jansen took 5-33 on day four.

Australia began the final day on 156-4. Rain washed out the first session. The Guardian reported that this cut the scheduled overs from 98 to 82.

Boland, batting as nightwatchman, scored 40 from 166 balls. It was his highest Test score. Wiaan Mulder bowled him after tea. Travis Head scored 121 before playing a ball from Mulder onto his own stumps. The Guardian reported that Head's innings came from 190 balls. Mulder also bowled Australia captain Pat Cummins and finished with 3-64. According to The Guardian, Australia were 262-8 after Cummins fell.

Kagiso Rabada took 4-77. Steve Smith, who had been affected by a neck problem the previous day, was caught attempting a pull shot off Rabada. Al Jazeera reported that Smith scored 3, batting at number seven, and was caught by Matthew Breetzke at mid-wicket. Rabada also bowled Mitchell Starc. Al Jazeera reported that Rabada was playing after a lengthy injury layoff. The reports do not describe the nature of that injury.

Jansen took the final wicket, with Josh Hazlewood caught in the slips. Australia were all out for 295 in the final session. Alex Carey finished 37 not out. According to The Guardian, Australia were within 28 overs of securing a draw.

What is disputed

Al Jazeera reported that Head's 121 was his 13th Test century and his second outside Australia. The Guardian described it as his first official hundred in an away Test. It said his 2023 World Test Championship final century at the Oval was classified as coming at a neutral venue.

What each side says

Al Jazeera quoted Bavuma as saying: "We were scrambling a bit, not sure about the weather and Australia made us work hard for those last six wickets."

Al Jazeera quoted Cummins as saying: "I thought we showed some good fight, but it wasn't quite enough. We were a long way from our best."

The reports do not say whether Smith's neck problem affects his availability for the third Test. They do not include squad news for Cape Town.

Analysis

The result sets up a deciding match in Cape Town, with both teams having won once. South Africa recovered from early batting trouble in both their innings collapse and the rain-shortened schedule, while Australia's second-innings resistance fell short late on the final day. Several questions remain open. The reports do not say whether Smith's neck problem will affect his selection, and they include no squad news for either side. Weather disrupted much of the second Test, and conditions in Cape Town could again influence how much play is possible. Either team could adjust its selection before Tuesday.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.