On 20 October, at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, Temba Bavuma struck a career‑best 179 off 334 balls, helping South Africa recover from 110‑6 to declare at 425‑9 on day three of the second Test against Australia.
Bavuma’s innings included 18 fours and a single six, and it was his fifth Test century and first against Australia. The score also became the highest by a South Africa captain against the Australians, a record noted in the match statistics.
He partnered with Marco Jansen for 132 runs for the seventh wicket, Jansen contributing 85 off 100 balls. The pair’s stand lifted the score from 97‑5 to a solid platform.
Later, Bavuma and Simon Harmer added 183 for the eighth wicket, a new South African record for that partnership. Harmer scored 82 off 157 balls, his first fifty‑plus Test score.
The innings was punctuated by Mitchell Starc’s 450th Test wicket when he dismissed Wiaan Mulder early. Starc then caught Bavuma behind, prompting the declaration after 127.1 overs.
Kagiso Rabada, returning to Test cricket, took a wicket with his fourth ball, leaving Australia at 3‑1 and trailing by 422 runs at the close of day three.
South Africa now face a time crunch on day four, scheduled for 21 October, to force a win before the Test concludes on 22 October, with rain‑lost overs adding pressure.