Rabada takes 4/77 to tie series with Australia

The Proteas bounced back in emphatic style and set up a mouth-watering series decider in Cape Town with an innings and 31-run victory against Australia in Gqeberha on Thursday.

With dark clouds closing in over St George’s park, the Australian No 11, flashed at a bouncing delivery from Marco Jansen, with the ball flying to Aiden Markram who held a catch above his head to secure one of the more unbelievable victories in the last three years.

They looked out of the contest at 110/6, midway through the morning session on the third day, but a heroic innings of 179 from Temba Bavuma, with able support from Marco Jansen, who scored 85 and Simon Harmer who made 82, saw them reach 425/9 declared.

Australia then collapsed in an unedifying heap in their first innings, being dismissed for 99, and were asked to follow-on.

The put up a much stiffer fight in their second innings and on Thursday in particular, an obstinate display from nightwatchman, Scott Boland frustrated the South Africans.

They had already lost the first session’s play to rain, and then Boland stuck around for 187 minutes, to increase the possibility of an Australian draw.

But a magic post-tea spell from Wiaan Mulder, in which he bowled both Boland for 40 and then Australian captain Pat Cummins for four, set the Proteas back on track.

With a thick dark cloud rolling in, the tension increased, but Kagiso Rabada, who replaced Mulder at the Park Drive end, bowled Mitchell Starc with Jansen delivering the coup de grace.

Mulder finished 3/64, while Rabada picked up 4/77.