Photo Credit: CSA.

Australia will need a substantial rearguard effort on the final day of the second Test after South Africa’s bowlers took 13 wickets on Wednesday to move within sight of levelling the series.

The visitors were dismissed for 99 in their first innings before reaching 156 for four at stumps after being forced to follow on. They trail South Africa by 170 runs, with Travis Head unbeaten on 87 and Scott Boland on two. South Africa lead the three match series 1 0 after winning the first Test in Durban.

Marco Jansen was the outstanding bowler, taking five for 33 as Australia’s first innings fell apart. Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder claimed two wickets each, while Simon Harmer contributed with the ball and in the field.

Australia’s total was their fourth lowest all out score against South Africa and their first below 100 in 69 innings, dating back to their dismissal for 91 against India in Nagpur in 2023.

The result followed a dramatic recovery by South Africa with the bat. On day three, Temba Bavuma scored a career best 179 after the hosts had slumped to 110 for six. His partnerships with Marco Jansen, who made 85, and Harmer, who scored 82, helped South Africa declare on 429 for nine and establish a lead of 326.

Jansen carried that momentum into the fourth day. Boland edged his first delivery to wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton, before Head was given out lbw on review. Labuschagne then edged Anrich Nortje to Harmer, who took a fine one-handed catch at gully.

 Nortje left the field with a suspected right groin injury in his fourth over, raising concerns about South Africa’s bowling resources for the remainder of the match.

Australia continued to lose wickets. Jansen removed Renshaw and Carey in the same spell, then dismissed Webster after lunch. Mulder bowled Smith for 28, leaving Australia all out shortly afterwards.

Smith reached 11,000 Test runs during his innings but was visibly troubled by a neck injury and spent much of the afternoon in a neck brace. His availability for the final day remains uncertain.

South Africa made another early breakthrough in the follow on innings when Rabada dismissed Nic Maddinson for eight. Head and Labuschagne added 92, offering some resistance, but Harmer removed Labuschagne for 39 when he charged down the pitch and sent the ball high towards mid -on. Jansen completed the catch while running backwards.

Harmer then trapped Webster lbw, while Rabada bowled Renshaw for 11. Australia closed on 156 for four, with Head their main remaining source of resistance. He was dropped on five but made full use of the reprieve, reaching 87 not out and keeping alive the possibility of a more substantial recovery.

South Africa’s position is strong, but Nortje’s injury could complicate the final day. The fast bowler had returned to the Test side after more than three years without a red ball appearance before the first Test in Durban. His pace had added another dimension to the attack, and his absence would leave a greater burden on Jansen, Rabada and Mulder.

Australia have been forced to follow on for only the third time this century, and their task is stark: they must avoid losing the remaining six wickets while attempting to erase a 170 run deficit. South Africa, meanwhile, need to maintain pressure with the new ball and make their advantage count.

Head’s unbeaten innings has given Australia some hope, but the visitors remain in a difficult position. A decisive final day awaits at St George’s Park.