South Africa thrash Australia by an innings and 31 runs to level Test series 1-1
South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the rain-hit second Test in Gqeberha despite Travis Head's 121, setting up a series decider at Newlands from October 27.
At a glance
- South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George's Park, Gqeberha, on day five, Thursday, October 22.
- South Africa made 425/9 declared, led by captain Temba Bavuma's 179; Australia were bowled out for 99 and, following on, for 295.
- Travis Head hit 121, his 13th Test century, and nightwatchman Scott Boland batted 166 balls for 40, but Australia could not save the match despite almost 135 overs lost to rain.
- The three-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs.
- The deciding third Test starts at Newlands, Cape Town, on Tuesday, October 27.
South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Thursday, October 22, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Australia, bowled out for 99 in their first innings and asked to follow on, fought for most of the final day through a Travis Head century but were all out for 295 in the last session, ending a rain-hit match that South Africa had dominated from the first innings.
The result
South Africa's victory came with time running short. Almost 135 overs were lost to rain across the five days, and Australia's hopes of a draw rested on batting through the final day. Head's 121 and a stubborn 40 from nightwatchman Scott Boland took the visitors within sight of safety, but South Africa's seamers broke through after tea and finished the job.
| 1st innings | 2nd innings | |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 425/9 declared | — |
| Australia | 99 all out | 295 all out (following on) |
| Result | South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs |
Key performers
| Player | Team | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma (capt) | South Africa | 179 in more than nine hours at the crease |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | 85 with the bat; led the attack in Australia's first-innings collapse |
| Wiaan Mulder | South Africa | Removed Head, Boland and Pat Cummins on the final day |
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | Removed Steve Smith (3) and bowled Mitchell Starc (11) |
| Travis Head | Australia | 121 off 190 balls, his 13th Test century |
| Scott Boland | Australia | 5/63 with the ball; 40 off 166 balls as nightwatchman |
Head's hundred was a rare one: it was the first century by an Australian batter in a follow-on innings since the 1980s. Smith fell cheaply when he top-edged a Rabada bouncer to Matthew Breetzke, and once Mulder ended Head's resistance, the tail followed quickly. Josh Hazlewood went for a duck to Jansen to end the match.
How the match unfolded
Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, but Bavuma batted South Africa into a commanding position with a captain's innings of 179 from 334 balls. Jansen's 85 and useful lower-order runs from Simon Harmer pushed the total past 400 before the declaration at 425/9. Boland was the pick of Australia's bowlers with five wickets, and Starc reached 450 Test wickets during the match.
Australia then collapsed for 99 on a pitch offering seam movement, their batting undone by Jansen and Rabada. Bavuma enforced the follow-on, and with weather eating into the schedule, the game became a race between South Africa's bowlers and the clock.
Background
Australia had taken the lead in the series with a 214-run win in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, where opener Matt Renshaw scored 190 and 82 and Hazlewood took 6/49 in the second innings. That defeat put pressure on Bavuma's side at home, and the response in Gqeberha was emphatic.
The two teams have a long and fierce Test rivalry, and South Africa beat Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord's. Points from this series count towards the current World Test Championship cycle, so each result matters for both sides' hopes of reaching the next final.
Reactions
South Africa's players celebrated a win that few expected once rain wiped out large parts of the match. Bavuma's long innings set up the game and the seamers did the rest, while Australia's batting in the first innings — 99 all out after winning the toss and bowling — left them chasing the match for four days.
For Australia, captain Pat Cummins will take positives from Head's fight, but the first-innings collapse has raised questions about the top order's ability against high-quality seam bowling away from home.
Why it matters
The result turns a series that looked to be slipping away from South Africa into a straight shoot-out. It also confirms South Africa's growing strength in home conditions, with an attack built around Rabada, Jansen and Mulder. For neutral fans across South Asia, where Test cricket between the top sides draws big audiences, the decider promises a high-quality contest between two of the strongest teams in the world.
What happens next
| Match | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Test | Newlands, Cape Town | October 27–31, 2026 |
The Newlands Test will decide the series. Newlands usually offers bounce and carry for fast bowlers early on, and both teams are likely to stick with four-pronged pace attacks supported by a spinner.
Questions people are asking
Who won the 2nd Test between South Africa and Australia in 2026?
South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs at St George's Park, Gqeberha, on October 22, 2026. Australia made 99 and 295 in reply to South Africa's 425/9 declared.
What is the score in the South Africa vs Australia Test series?
The three-match series is level at 1-1. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs and South Africa won the second in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs.
When and where is the 3rd Test between South Africa and Australia?
The third and final Test is at Newlands in Cape Town from Tuesday, October 27 to Saturday, October 31, 2026.
