Bavuma’s 179 gives South Africa a chance against Australia after late declaration
South Africa recovered from 110-6 to declare on 425-9 in Gqeberha, then took a wicket in the first over of Australia’s reply. Lost time leaves two days to force a result.
Temba Bavuma’s 179 helped South Africa recover to 425-9 declared on day three of the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha on 20 October. Kagiso Rabada then removed Nic Maddinson in the first over of Australia’s reply, leaving the tourists 3-1 at the close and 422 runs behind. The late breakthrough gave South Africa a chance to press for a win over the remaining two days.
How Bavuma turned South Africa’s innings around
South Africa had slipped to 110-6 earlier on day three, but Bavuma batted for 552 minutes across three days to make his highest Test score. He added 132 with Marco Jansen and 183 with Simon Harmer. BBC Sport reported that the latter was South Africa’s highest eighth-wicket partnership in Tests. Jansen made 85, while the Guardian reported that Harmer also passed 80.
Bavuma passed his previous Test best of 172 before Mitchell Starc had him caught behind for 179. South Africa declared with about half an hour of play left. His innings was his fifth Test century; BBC Sport reported that four have come in 14 Tests since he became captain.
Why South Africa waited to declare
Bavuma said the weather made him hesitant to declare earlier. ‘If we [had declared] a bit early we would have got one or two more overs,’ he said, according to BBC Sport. ‘Saying that we got the one we wanted.’ Rabada’s first-over dismissal of Maddinson gave the hosts that wicket, but their decision left little time to bowl at Australia before the close.
Only 42 overs had been possible across the first two days, BBC Sport reported, making the time left in the match central to South Africa’s prospects. Bavuma said he hoped his side would spend most of the final two days in the field. They still need to dismiss Australia’s remaining batters before they can put the visitors under further pressure.
Bavuma called the innings ‘definitely’ one of his best and pointed to the strength of Australia’s bowling attack. BBC Sport reported that his Test average as captain is 54.36, compared with 34.53 across 93 innings before he took the role. His resistance has changed the match position, though whether South Africa have enough time to turn their advantage into a victory remains open.
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Sources and context
- South Africa vs Australia: Temba Bavuma century drags hosts back into seriesBBC Sport
- Australia limp to 3-1 after South Africa post 425-9 on day three of men’s second Test – as it happenedThe Guardian
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.