South Africa completed a remarkable turnaround to defeat Australia by an innings and 31 runs on Day 5 of the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, levelling the three-match series at 1-1.

Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder delivered crucial breakthroughs on the final day as the Proteas dismissed Australia for 295 in their second innings, completing a commanding victory after the visitors had been forced to follow on.

Australia resumed on 156/4, still trailing by 170 runs, with Travis Head unbeaten on 87 and nightwatchman Scott Boland on two. However, persistent wet conditions delayed the start of play, with the entire morning session lost before the action eventually resumed after lunch.

Head went on to score a fighting century, finishing with 121, while Boland frustrated the Proteas with a determined 40 from 166 deliveries. Their resistance threatened to extend the contest, but South Africa’s bowlers eventually broke through to secure a memorable victory.

Head and Boland Frustrate Proteas After Delayed Start

South Africa entered the final day needing six wickets to secure victory, having dominated Australia on Day 4.

However, the hosts were forced to wait for their opportunity as wet ground conditions prevented play during the morning session.

When play eventually resumed, Head continued his impressive resistance alongside Boland, who had been promoted to the top of the order as a nightwatchman.

Head reached his century from 151 deliveries, striking 12 boundaries to bring up the milestone.

The left-hander had been Australia’s standout batter during their second innings, showing greater application than most of his teammates as he attempted to keep the visitors in the contest.

Boland, meanwhile, adopted a patient approach, occupying the crease and frustrating South Africa’s bowlers.

The pair brought up their 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket, with Head continuing to score while Boland focused on survival.

Australia reached 205/4 after 74 overs, with Head unbeaten on 117 and Boland on 18.

With the visitors continuing to resist, South Africa needed a breakthrough to regain control.

Mulder Removes Head to Break Australia’s Resistance

The decisive moment arrived in the 75th over when Mulder dismissed Head for 121.

Bowling from around the wicket, Mulder delivered a back-of-a-length ball that Head attempted to defend, only to play it onto the pitch before it bounced back into his stumps.

The dismissal ended a 59-run fifth-wicket partnership and left Australia on 209/5.

Head’s innings had lasted 190 deliveries and included 15 boundaries, providing Australia with their strongest resistance of the match.

His departure was a major breakthrough for South Africa, particularly with the visitors still trailing by 117 runs.

Rabada then removed Steve Smith for just three shortly after the second new ball became available.

Smith attempted to pull a short delivery but produced a top edge that travelled towards Matthew Breetzke at midwicket.

Breetzke initially struggled to hold the catch in the windy conditions but recovered to complete it at the second attempt.

The wicket left Australia on 225/6 and strengthened South Africa’s position.

Despite the setbacks, Boland continued to frustrate the Proteas alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

The pair guided Australia beyond 250, with Boland reaching 40 before Mulder produced another important breakthrough.

Mulder Strikes Twice as Proteas Close In

Boland’s resistance finally ended in the 95th over when Mulder bowled him for 40.

The South African all-rounder delivered a ball that moved sharply back into the right-hander, beating the gap between bat and pad before crashing into the stumps.

Boland had faced 166 deliveries, striking six boundaries in an innings that helped Australia delay South Africa’s victory push.

His dismissal left Australia on 256/7, still 70 runs behind.

Mulder struck again less than two overs later, this time removing Australian captain Pat Cummins for four.

Cummins attempted to defend a delivery that moved away after pitching, but the ball beat his bat and struck the stumps.

Australia were reduced to 262/8, leaving the Proteas needing just two wickets to complete the victory.

Mulder’s contributions proved vital during the final day, with his three wickets helping South Africa break through Australia’s resistance.

Rabada and Jansen Finish the Job

Carey continued to fight alongside Australia’s lower order, but the visitors remained well behind South Africa’s first-innings total.

Mitchell Starc provided some resistance with 11 from 28 deliveries before Rabada returned to claim another important wicket.

Starc attempted an attacking drive but was beaten by a delivery that moved back into him, striking the stumps.

The dismissal left Australia on 290/9, bringing the Proteas within one wicket of victory.

Jansen then completed the job by dismissing Josh Hazlewood for a duck, with Aiden Markram taking the catch.

Australia were bowled out for 295 in 107.1 overs, handing South Africa victory by an innings and 31 runs.

Rabada finished as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the second innings with figures of 4/77 from 23 overs.

Mulder claimed 3/64, while Simon Harmer contributed 2/93 after bowling 39 overs.

Jansen completed the innings with 1/34, adding to his outstanding five-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings.

Carey remained unbeaten on 37 as Australia’s lower order fell short of making South Africa bat again.

Proteas Complete Remarkable Turnaround

The victory represented an extraordinary recovery for South Africa after their heavy defeat in the opening Test in Durban.

Australia had entered the second Test with a 1-0 series lead and appeared to be in control when the Proteas struggled to 97/5 across the rain-affected opening two days.

South Africa’s problems deepened when Mulder was dismissed early on Day 3, leaving the hosts on 110/6.

However, captain Temba Bavuma produced one of the finest innings of his Test career, scoring a career-best 179 from 334 deliveries.

Bavuma shared a 132-run seventh-wicket partnership with Jansen, who contributed an attacking 85 from 100 deliveries.

Simon Harmer then registered his maiden Test half-century, scoring 82 as he and Bavuma added 183 runs for the eighth wicket.

Their contributions allowed South Africa to recover to 425/9 before declaring.

Jansen followed up his impressive batting performance with figures of 5/33 as Australia collapsed to 99 in their first innings on Day 4.

The total was Australia’s fourth-lowest against South Africa in Test cricket and handed the Proteas a massive 326-run first-innings lead.

Bavuma enforced the follow-on, and although Head’s century and Boland’s resistance delayed the inevitable, South Africa’s bowlers maintained the pressure to complete the victory.

The result also highlighted the contributions of South Africa’s all-rounders, with Jansen producing a match-defining performance with bat and ball, while Mulder delivered crucial wickets on the final day.

Rabada’s four-wicket haul in Australia’s second innings ensured the Proteas capitalised on their commanding position.

Having been outplayed in Durban and placed under enormous pressure early in Gqeberha, South Africa responded with an innings victory to level the series.

The two teams will now head to Cape Town for the third and final Test at Newlands, beginning on 27 October, with the series level at 1-1.

Match Summary — Second Test, St George’s Park, Gqeberha

South Africa: 425/9 declared (127.1 overs)

Temba Bavuma 179, Marco Jansen 85, Simon Harmer 82

Australia first innings: 99 all out (42.3 overs)

Steve Smith 28; Marco Jansen 5/33, Kagiso Rabada 2/33, Wiaan Mulder 2/14

Australia second innings (following on): 295 all out (107.1 overs)

Travis Head 121, Scott Boland 40, Marnus Labuschagne 39, Alex Carey 37*

Kagiso Rabada 4/77, Wiaan Mulder 3/64, Simon Harmer 2/93, Marco Jansen 1/34

Result: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs.

Series: Level 1-1.