South Africa thrash Australia to level series before Cape Town decider

South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at Gqeberha, levelling the series at 1-1 and setting up a decider in Cape Town.

South Africa declared their first innings on 425 for nine, built on Temba Bavuma's 179 and Marco Jansen's 85, with Scott Boland taking five for 81. Australia were bowled out for 99 and, forced to follow on, made 295 second time round as Travis Head scored 121. Kagiso Rabada took four for 77 and Wiaan Mulder three for 64.

The defeat strips Australia of the advantage they held after winning the opening Test in Durban barely a week earlier, and leaves the tourists needing to regroup before the series is settled in Cape Town.

Australia's resistance on the final day centred on Head's century and a marathon from nightwatchman Boland, whose vigil carried the match into the last session before the follow-on finally told. It was only the third time this century that Australia have had to bat again having been asked to follow on.

According to the Guardian's Geoff Lemon, Australia let the contest slip away by allowing South Africa to recover from 40 for four to beyond 400 in the first innings, before collapsing to 99 themselves. A washed-out morning session on the final day trimmed the day's overs from a scheduled 98 to 82, offering Australia some respite that ultimately proved insufficient.

Boland's role with the bat extended well beyond his day-five heroics. He had already done nightwatchman duty in the first innings, batting briefly on the fourth morning before returning that evening to help take Australia to 156 for four at the close. On the final day, with four wickets down and 170 runs still owed, he produced the longest innings of his Test career, facing 166 balls for 40 runs - nearly double his previous best - and outlasting both Head and Steve Smith before the match ran past the tea interval, per the Guardian.

Former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie, speaking on ABC Grandstand, said the problems ran wider than a single defeat. "It is not just this Test," he said. "We are talking about the batting and a lack of options and performance. Something will change."

Australia coach Andrew McDonald declined to commit to changes when pressed afterwards, but stopped short of defending his batting unit, saying simply: "I can't defend that."

The result reverses the position of a week ago, when it was South Africa facing questions after losing in Durban and responding with three changes to their side. With New Zealand, India and England all to come for the two teams, the series decider in Cape Town carries added significance for both camps' selectors.