WEG IS JY: Kagiso Rabada celebrates the dismissal of Mitchell Starc yesterday

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THE Proteas produced a giftige fightback against Australia at St George’s Park in Gqeberha to level the three-match Test series 1-1 and set up a mouth-watering decider at Newlands next week.

Temba Bavuma’s team klapped Australia by an innings and 31 runs, completing a remarkable turnaround after suffering a demoralising 214-run defeat at Kingsmead. 

Australia showed plenty of resistance on the final day yesterday, led by Travis Head’s fighting 121 and nightwatchman Scott Boland’s stubborn 40 off 166 balls.

However, the Proteas remained patient, refusing to allow the visitors’ defiance to derail their march towards victory.

Kagiso Rabada (4/77) and Simon Harmer applied sustained pressure in Australia’s second innings, but it was Wiaan Mulder who provided the crucial breakthroughs with a lion-hearted spell either side of the tea interval.

The all-rounder eventually breached Boland’s dogged defence, ending an exhausting vigil that had frustrated the hosts for much of the day.

CRUCIAL WICKETS: Wiaan Mulder

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Mulder struck again shortly afterwards, rearranging Australian captain Pat Cummins’ stumps to leave the visitors on the brink of defeat.

Rabada then cleaned up Mitchell Starc before Jansen delivered the coup de grâce, with last man Josh Hazlewood edging behind to Aiden Markram at second slip.

Bavuma deserves moerse credit for leading from the front. His outstanding 179 rescued the Proteas from a shaky 110/6 in their first innings and laid the foundation for a commanding total of 425/9 declared. Jansen’s valuable 85 and Harmer’s composed 82 provided vital support.

The Proteas then dismantled Australia for a paltry 99, with Jansen claiming a jitz 5/33 to force the follow-on and put the hosts firmly in the driving seat.

The victory restores the Proteas confidence and momentum ahead of the final Test at Newlands. 

With the series finely poised at 1-1, the stage is set for a compelling showdown innie Kaap.