South Africans Jansen and Rabada put Australia on the brink in the second Test

South Africa one step away from victory

Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia at St George's Park, put South Africa on the verge of a victory that would level the series, AFP reports. The visitors, forced to follow on for the first time since 2019, had reached 156 for four by the end of the day and still trailed by 170 runs to make South Africa bat again.

Jansen and Rabada's contribution

The tall left-arm seamer Jansen was outstanding in the first innings, taking five wickets for 33 runs, beginning with the very first delivery of the match — nightwatchman Scott Boland was caught behind in the second over of the day. He then removed Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey and Beau Webster as Australia collapsed to their fourth-lowest total against South Africa — 99 runs. Rabada struck two key blows in the second innings: he cheaply dismissed opener Nick Maddinson for the second time in the match, then bowled Matt Renshaw, who was named player of the match in Australia's victorious first Test.

Course of the match and squad problems

Earlier in the rain-reduced match, Jansen made a crucial 85 runs and captain Temba Bavuma — a career-best 179, which allowed South Africa to declare at 425/9 on day three after being 110/6. With a lead of 326 runs, the South Africans enforced the follow-on despite fast bowler Anrich Nortje being ruled out with a groin injury after 3.3 overs. Without Nortje, Bavuma used Rabada, Jansen and Wiaan Mulder in short spells, while off-spinner Simon Harmer bowled 18 overs and took two wickets, breaking the 92-run partnership between Head and Marnus Labuschagne. In the second innings, Head, who survived an early chance, remained unbeaten on 87. Steve Smith did not bat in the second innings after, according to AFP, appearing to suffer from a neck injury; he was later seen wearing a neck brace.

Reaction and the third Test

«We knew that with the first two days lost to rain we would need to bowl them out as quickly as possible in the first or second innings,» Jansen said, adding that he was pleased with how he had used the pitch and the new ball. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald, after the defeat, remarked: «A week ago we were a really good team. I'm not going to hang anyone.» According to him, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, who missed the first two Tests, will be available for selection for the third Test in Cape Town.

Significance

The outcome of the match will determine whether South Africa level the series after their 214-run defeat in the first Test, as McDonald himself noted. For Australia, the practical consequence is squad questions: Smith's neck injury and Nortje's absence on the opposing side affect both teams' line-ups ahead of the third Test in Cape Town, where Inglis and Green return to selection contention. For now, the outcome of the series remains open: Australia need another 170 runs, and Head, in Jansen's assessment, is capable of scoring a hundred off 50 balls.