SA vs AUS 2nd Test 2026: South Africa Win by an Innings, 1-1
Published on October 22, 2026
Summary Overview: South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha to level the series 1-1. Temba Bavuma hit 179 and Marco Jansen took 6 wickets in the match. Travis Head's 121 could not save Australia. Cape Town decider next.
Who won? South Africa, by an innings and 31 runs at St George's Park, Gqeberha. Australia were bowled out for 99 and then 295 following on, still 31 short of South Africa's 425 for 9 declared.
Who starred? Captain Temba Bavuma hit 179, Marco Jansen made 85 and took 6 wickets in the match, and Kagiso Rabada took 4 for 77 on the final day. For Australia, Travis Head made a brave 121.
What does it mean? The three-match series is level at 1-1, with everything to play for in the final Test.
When is the decider? The 3rd Test starts on Tuesday, October 27 at Newlands, Cape Town.
The Story: From Rain-Hit Draw to Crushing Win
After the first two days were badly affected by rain, this Test looked like it might end in a draw. Instead, South Africa took control and won comfortably on the final day.
For readers new to Test cricket: a Test match lasts up to five days, and each team bats twice. A team wins by an innings when it scores more runs in one innings than the other team manages in two. Australia were made to follow on (bat again straight away) after falling 326 runs behind, and they still could not make up the gap.
How the Match Unfolded
South Africa 425 for 9 declared. From 40 for 4 and 110 for 6, Bavuma rescued his side with 179 off 334 balls. He added 132 with Jansen (85) and 183 for the eighth wicket with Simon Harmer (82). Scott Boland took 5 for 81.
Australia 99 all out. Rabada, back from injury, struck in the first over, and Marco Jansen took 5 for 33. Only Steven Smith (28) passed 20.
Australia 295 all out (following on). Australia started day 5 on 156 for 4, still 170 behind, with Travis Head on 87.
Milestone: Rabada Reaches 200 Home Test Wickets
On his return from a hamstring injury, Kagiso Rabada reached 200 Test wickets in South Africa during Australia's first innings. He became only the fourth South African to reach that mark at home, after Dale Steyn (261), Makhaya Ntini (249) and Shaun Pollock. He then added four more wickets on the final day to finish with 6 for 110 in the match.
Five-Wicket Hauls in the Match
| Bowler | Team | Figures | Innings |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | 5 for 33 (11 overs) | Australia 1st innings |
| Scott Boland | Australia | 5 for 81 (29 overs) | South Africa 1st innings |
Rabada (2 for 33 and 4 for 77) and Mulder (2 for 14 and 3 for 64) did not take five in an innings, but both did major damage across the match.
Day 5: Head's Hundred, Then South Africa Close In
Head reached a fine century and, with nightwatchman Scott Boland, held South Africa up for more than 20 overs. Boland defended for 166 balls in a gutsy 40, and the pair added 59 for the fifth wicket.
Then Wiaan Mulder broke through, bowling Head for 121 off 190 balls with 15 fours at 209 for 5. Australia were still 117 behind.
The breakthrough opened the door. Rabada had Steven Smith caught for 3, Mulder bowled Boland and then Pat Cummins, and Australia slipped to 262 for 8. Alex Carey fought on with 37 not out, but Rabada bowled Mitchell Starc, and Jansen had Josh Hazlewood caught by Markram to finish the match with Australia 31 runs short of making South Africa bat again.
Turning Point: Mulder Removes Head
Head had faced 190 balls and looked set to bat Australia towards safety. When Mulder bowled him at 209 for 5, Australia lost their last six wickets for 86 runs, and the draw slipped away.
But the real foundation was laid days earlier, when Bavuma and Harmer added 183 for the eighth wicket to take South Africa from 242 for 7 to 425.
Stat Corner
Top Performers (Match)
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Temba Bavuma (c) | South Africa | 179 (334), 18 fours, 1 six |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | 85 (100), and 6 for 67 in the match (5 for 33 and 1 for 34) |
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 6 for 110 in the match (2 for 33 and 4 for 77) |
| Wiaan Mulder | South Africa | 5 for 78 in the match (2 for 14 and 3 for 64) |
| Simon Harmer | South Africa | 82 (157) and 2 for 102 in the match |
| Travis Head | Australia | 14 and 121 (190), 15 fours |
| Scott Boland | Australia | 5 for 81, and 40 off 166 balls as nightwatchman |
| Alex Carey (wk) | Australia | 0 and 37* |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Australia | 14 and 39 |
* not out
Scorecard Summary
| Innings | Score |
| South Africa 1st innings | 425/9 declared (127.1 overs). Bavuma 179, Jansen 85, Harmer 82; Boland 5/81, Starc 3/89 |
| Australia 1st innings | 99 all out (42.3 overs). Smith 28; Jansen 5/33, Rabada 2/33, Mulder 2/14 |
| Australia 2nd innings (f/o) | 295 all out (107.1 overs). Head 121, Boland 40, Labuschagne 39, Carey 37*; Rabada 4/77, Mulder 3/64, Harmer 2/93 |
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs.
Player of the Match: Temba Bavuma.
How the Match Turned
| Moment | Score |
| South Africa in trouble | 110 for 6 |
| Bavuma and Harmer stand | 183 for the 8th wicket |
| South Africa declare | 425 for 9 |
| Australia all out | 99 (trail by 326) |
| Stumps, day 4 | Australia 156 for 4 (following on) |
| Head bowled by Mulder | 209 for 5 |
| Australia all out | 295, 31 short |
Playing XIs
| Team | Playing XI |
| South Africa | Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje |
| Australia | Nic Maddinson, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland |
Series So Far
| Match | Venue | Result |
| 1st Test | Kingsmead, Durban | Australia won by 214 runs |
| 2nd Test | St George's Park, Gqeberha | South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs |
| 3rd Test | Newlands, Cape Town | Decider, Oct 27 to 31 |
Series score: South Africa 1, Australia 1.
The Decider: 3rd Test at Newlands
| Match | Dates | Venue | Local (SAST) | IST | Pakistan | ET |
| 3rd Test | Tue, Oct 27 to Sat, Oct 31 | Newlands, Cape Town | 10:00 AM | 1:30 PM | 1:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
Local time is South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+2). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). In the UK, play starts at 8:00 AM (GMT) after the clocks go back on October 25. In Australia, play starts at 7:00 PM (AEDT).
What to watch: Australia have big questions after being bowled out for 99. Will Nathan Lyon, left out in Gqeberha, come back at Newlands, where spin can play a bigger part later in a Test? And can Steven Smith, who made only 28 and 3, find form? South Africa, meanwhile, will want to keep the same winning combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test 2026?
- South Africa, by an innings and 31 runs at St George's Park, Gqeberha.
What is the series score?
- 1-1, with one Test left to play.
Who scored centuries?
- Temba Bavuma (179) for South Africa and Travis Head (121) for Australia.
Who took the most wickets?
- Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, with six each in the match.
When is the 3rd Test?
- Tuesday, October 27 to Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Newlands, Cape Town, starting at 10:00 AM local time (1:30 PM IST, 1:00 PM PKT, 4:00 AM ET).