TEMBA Bavuma produced a captain’s masterclass of the highest order, scoring a career-best 179 to drag the Proteas from the brink of disaster and put them firmly in control of the second Test against Australia at St George’s Park yesterday.

Resuming day three on 97/5 following two rain-shortened days, South Africa were in danger of allowing the match and series to slip away.

When Wiaan Mulder fell early to Mitchell Starc for 13, leaving the hosts reeling at 110/6, Australia smelt blood.

Instead, Bavuma found a brilliant counter-attacking ally in Marco Jansen.

The lanky all-rounder completely shifted the momentum, klapping 85 off 100 balls in a fiery 132-run partnership that rattled Pat Cummins’ team.

Though Scott Boland eventually removed Jansen to claim a deserved five-wicket haul (5/81), the Proteas’ fightback was far from over.

Simon Harmer then joined his skipper, blunting the second new ball and grinding out a maiden Test half-century.

Harmer’s jitz 82 was part of a century stand that pushed the Proteas past the 400 mark, leaving the Australian attack uitgeput.

Bavuma, who spent over six hours at the crease, brought up his fifth Test century before surpassing his previous top score of 172.

When he finally edged behind off Starc for 179, the captain called time on the innings, declaring at 425/9 under fading light.

The strategic move paid instant dividends.

Kagiso Rabada struck with his very first over, enticing Nick Maddinson into an outside edge straight into the hands of Harmer for a duck.

Forced to send in nightwatchman Boland alongside Travis Head, Australia navigated a tense final few overs to reach 3/1 at stumps.

With Australia still trailing by 422 runs and a fired-up Proteas attack ready to pounce on day four, Bavuma’s marathon resistance has completely turned the Test on its head.