South Africa Thrash Australia by an Innings and 31 Runs to Level Series 1-1

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 1-1 and setting up a series decider in Cape Town. Temba Bavuma was named Player of the Match for his captain's innings of 179.

South Africa had declared on 425 for 9 on the back of Bavuma's knock and a national-record 183-run eighth-wicket stand between Bavuma and Simon Harmer. Australia never recovered from that total. Set 326 behind on first innings after being bowled out for 99, they were sent back in and could only reach 295 following on, with Steve Smith's 11,000th Test run among the few bright spots in an otherwise grim match for the tourists.

Bavuma reflected on a dramatic day that included a weather delay, saying his heart rate was "quite good" given the circumstances, and called his 179 one of his best innings, adding that South Africa still had "a job on hand with one match to go." He praised the contributions of Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj in the first innings and the returning Wiaan Mulder in the second, while acknowledging the absence of the injured Anrich Nortje as a blow the attack had to compensate for.

Australia captain Pat Cummins credited Scott Boland and Travis Head for fighting hard on the final day but admitted his side were well below their best compared with the Durban performance. He said there were "still a few gaps" to address in the batting order and that the pitch had runs on offer that Australia failed to cash in on, while praising South Africa's approach of suffocating the opposition with early wickets.

The result is South Africa's fourth Test win by an innings over Australia, and the first time since 1970 that they have beaten them by an innings margin after enforcing the follow-on. With the series level at 1-1, the decider will be played in Cape Town.