Australia vs South Africa Live Score, 2nd Test of Australia tour of South Africa, 2026

Test cricket, you beautiful thing - Two days into this Test, a South Africa win seemed the least likely of the possible outcomes, and it looked like Australia's game to lose. And lose they did. The Proteas showed why they are the current holders of the WTC mace, pulling off a remarkable turnaround to level the series. The two teams now head to Cape Town for the decider, where the infamous 'Sandpapergate' unfolded in 2018. The third Test begins on Tuesday, 27th October, and we hope the crowd turns up in full voice for what promises to be a cracking contest. The first ball will be bowled at 8.30 am GMT, but as always, we will be here nice and early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The skipper of Australia - Pat Cummins reflects on the defeat. Mentions that they did show some good fight with the bat, singling out the way Head and Boland resisted for a good period of time. He admits that Australia were a long way away from their best. Adds that while everyone contributed in the previous week despite a slow start in Durban, Cummins feels not enough players stood up across the board this time. Cummins defends Australia's team balance, saying they are fortunate to have plenty of all-rounders to call upon and does not see it as an issue. He points to Boland and Head's innings as the blueprint, stressing the need to weather the storm against quality bowlers while knowing that runs are available. With the series level at 1-1, Cummins says Australia have a few days to assess where things went wrong, adding that the pitch was good and that the match mirrored last week's contest, with one side seizing early wickets and suffocating the other.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The captain of South Africa, Temba Bavuma, takes home the award for his phenomenal knock of 179 to pull his side out of trouble. When asked how his heart rate is, he says it is settled now and jokes that the weather also wanted to have a say in the game. Shares that the team were scrambling in the change room as they waited for the weather to clear and were excited at the prospect of getting back on the field. He rates his knock among his best, pointing out that batting was difficult throughout the match. He takes a lot of pride in the effort and says it will give him plenty of confidence, but adds that there is still one Test to go and he will allow himself to soak it all in once the series is over. He also praises the contributions of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Wiaan Mulder across this Test. Bavuma hopes those performances continue to get better and better. He says the key was to stay in the moment, whether that meant extending their time at the crease by another hour or another session, and being ruthless when the opportunity came. Mentions that they pride themselves on playing good, old-fashioned Test cricket and wearing the opposition down. On Nortje's absence, he admits it is a big loss given the extra dimension he brings to the attack. In hindsight, he feels they took a risk by playing him in back-to-back games. However, he is confident they have options available and says they will make a decision when they head to Cape Town.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Damage done in the first dig - The Proteas quicks were all over Australia in their first innings, and the tourists did themselves no favours with their shot selection. Jansen picked up a five-wicket haul, stepping up at a time when Anrich Nortje was sidelined with a groin issue. South Africa secured a massive 326-run lead and asked Australia to follow on. The tourists showed a lot more fight in their second innings, led by Travis Head, who made the most of being dropped on 5 by Jansen to score his second Test century away from home. Rain delayed the start on the final day, and Head and nightwatchman Scott Boland made South Africa work hard, with Boland facing 166 balls. But once Wiaan Mulder breached Boland's defence, the Proteas were able to finish the job and level the series.

How it all started - It was a wet start to the Test, with two rain-affected days allowing only 43 overs to be bowled. Things got off to a troublesome start for the hosts after they were asked to bat first. Brought in at the expense of Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland made most of the early inroads to leave the Proteas in all sorts of trouble at 110/6 and went on to pick up a five-wicket haul. Temba Bavuma held it all together, and his career-best 179 helped South Africa put together a solid recovery. The tide began to turn through Marco Jansen's counterpunch before a record 8th-wicket stand of 183 between Bavuma and Simon Harmer helped South Africa recover further.

South Africa level the series - Who would have thought the Proteas would win this game, let alone by an innings, after being 110/6 in their first innings? Australia were in a similar position in Durban, but managed to turn things around and register a big win. This time, here in Gqeberha, they found themselves on the receiving end. The Aussies showed plenty of fight in the second innings, but being bowled out for 99 in the first dig left them with too much to do. It all sets up a mouthwatering decider in Cape Town next week.

OUT! EDGED AND CAUGHT! And fittingly, it is Marco Jansen who delivers the final blow. A famous, famous win for South Africa, one they will savour for a long time to come. Jansen offers width outside off with a back-of-a-length delivery at 130.2 kmph. Hazlewood backs away, looking to carve it over the off side, exposing his stumps in the process. He gets a massive outside edge, and Aiden Markram snaps up a sharp catch at second slip with a reverse cup over his head. South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs! Handshakes all round and beaming smiles from the South Africans who managed to get the final few wickets with the gloom circling. The clouds certainly added a layer of anxiety, but Rabada and Jansen got the job done.

FOUR! Shot! On a length, outside the off stump. Carey lets his hands through and lofts it over the top of extra cover for a boundary. But it will be Hazlewood on strike in the next over.

A ball pitched short of a good length on middle stump, nips back in a touch. Carey looks to work it to the leg side but misses the inside edge, with the delivery thudding into his back pad. Hazlewood is quick to set off, but Carey turns him back when he is already halfway down the pitch.

Too full, aiming for the yorker, Carey shovels it to mid on.

On top of off, on a length, Carey punches it to the off side.

Rapid pace, full on the stumps, Carey goes for a flick but inside edges on the pads.

Full on the stumps, clipped down to mid on.

DRINKS BREAK! Adding to the drama, it's time for a breather. With the finish line in sight, it's easy to go searching for that last wicket, but Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will know better than most that this is the time to keep it simple and stay patient. Australia are now down to their final wicket and hoping against hope, with all their hopes resting on Alex Carey, who will look to farm the strike and keep the fight going.

Had the throw hit, that would have been curtains for Australia! Length-delivery, outside off, Carey hangs back and steers it to the backward point region and sets off for a single to retain the strike in the next over. But Marques Ackerman is close by and picks the ball up and throws in a motion. However, his throw goes off the radar at the batting end and rolls to square leg. Hazlewood had already given up. If Ackerman had taken a second or two before throwing, that would have sent Hazlewood packing.

Attacks the off stump on a good length, Carey alertly blocks it to the off side.

Full and straight, on off, 134.1 kph. Alex Carey is sucked on the front foot to defend, but it goes off the outside half and rolls to deep third.

Hammered hard into the pitch, at the pads. Carey steers it to the square leg region.

A sharp bouncer outside off, Carey is not interested to play at that.

That bail-trimming length, on off, Carey trusts the bounce and leaves.

Temba Bavuma does not want to take any chances with a big cloud looming overhead. He brings back Marco Jansen.

Good-length delivery around off. Hazlewood blocks it to cover.

A rash shot from Mitchell Starc, and one that was completely uncalled for in this situation. Josh Hazlewood is the last man in.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! A ripper of a delivery by Rabada, and he gets his fourth. He is back, and how! After hitting a couple on a length, Rabada cannons it full on the stumps. Mitchell Starc does not move his feet and swings down the wrong line. Hears the death rattle as the ball disturbs the leg stump, with bails flying in either direction. Lovely sight for any fast bowler, and Rabada is engulfed by his teammates. Australia are 290/9, trailing by 36 runs. The South Africans are delighted, and why not? They are just one wicket away from a famous win.

A bit more effort on this ball from Rabada. Hits the length hard, angling down the leg side. Starc misses the glance to the keeper.

Length-delivery, on off, Starc knocks it to short cover.

Back of a length, on off, punched to cover.

A whisker! Rabada steams in from around the stump and lands it just outside the off stump. It keeps angling in but Starc makes a very risky leave as it whistles over the woodwork.

Kagiso Rabada is back. St George's Park is bathing in sunshine, but a big grey cloud is closing in, and the ground staff are moving towards the covers.