Proteas claim stunning innings and 31-run victory in second Test

The Proteas bounced back in emphatic style and set up a mouthwatering series decider in Cape Town with an innings and 31-run victory against Australia in Gqeberha on Thursday.

With dark clouds closing in over St George’s Park, Australian No. 11 Josh Hazlewood flashed at a bouncing delivery from Marco Jansen, and the ball flew to Aiden Markram, who held the catch above his head to secure one of the more unbelievable victories in the last three years.

SA looked out of the contest at 110/6 in the first innings, midway through the morning session on the third day, after rain washed out most of the first two days.

However, captain Temba Bavuma played a heroic innings of 179, with strong support from Marco Jansen (85) and Simon Harmer (82), to take the Proteas to 425/9 declared.

Australia then collapsed in an unedifying heap in their first innings, being dismissed for 99, and were asked to follow-on.

They put up a much stiffer fight in their second innings, and on Thursday, in particular, an obstinate display from nightwatchman Scott Boland frustrated the South Africans.

They had already lost the first session’s play to rain, then Boland stuck around for 187 minutes to increase the possibility of a draw.

But a magic post-tea spell from Wiaan Mulder, in which he bowled both Boland for 40 and then Australian captain Pat Cummins for four, set the Proteas back on track.

With a thick dark cloud rolling in, the tension increased, but Kagiso Rabada, who replaced Mulder at the Park Drive end, bowled Mitchell Starc with Jansen delivering the coup de grace.

Mulder finished 3/64, while Rabada picked up 4/77.

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