Bavuma's career-best 179 puts South Africa on top against Australia

Temba Bavuma made a career-best 179 as South Africa declared at 425-9 before reducing Australia to 3-1 on the third day of the second Test in Gqeberha. According to BBC Sport's match report, the captain's innings revived the hosts after they had slipped to 110-6 earlier in the day, leaving Australia 422 runs behind at the close.

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Bavuma had arrived at the crease with South Africa 12-2 on the opening day and eventually spent 552 minutes batting across three days. His resistance was especially important in a match heavily interrupted by the weather: only 42 overs had been possible across the first two days. Australia had won the first Test, in which Matthew Renshaw scored 190.

The recovery relied on two major partnerships with the lower order. Bavuma added 132 with Marco Jansen, who scored 85, then put on 183 with Simon Harmer. BBC Sport reported that the latter stand was South Africa's highest for the eighth wicket in Test cricket. Scott Boland finished with figures of 5-81 as the hosts recovered to reach 425 before declaring.

The declaration came with about half an hour remaining after two wickets in successive deliveries. Marnus Labuschagne bowled Harmer before Mitchell Starc had Bavuma caught behind. South Africa had kept batting earlier in the session, and Bavuma later explained that uncertainty over the weather had influenced his reluctance to declare sooner. He acknowledged that an earlier decision might have provided another over or two.

Kagiso Rabada then dismissed Nic Maddinson in the first over of Australia's innings, with the opener caught at third slip after facing four deliveries. The opportunity to use pace in the fading light was brief, however. The umpires ruled that conditions were too dark for seam bowling, and three overs of spin followed before play ended. Boland was unbeaten on two when Australia finished the day.

Bavuma's hundred was his fifth in Tests and his fourth in 14 matches as captain. Despite the turnaround, South Africa still needed to turn their advantage into wickets over the remaining two days. Bavuma said his side had given themselves a chance, while also recognising the possibility of a draw and the value of building confidence before the third Test in Cape Town.