Rain again interrupted the second Test between South Africa and Australia at St George's Park, Gqeberha, on 19 Oct 2026, and the hosts finished day two on 97 for 5 in their first innings. Scott Boland was the leading Australian bowler, ending with 4 for 31, after the first two sessions of the day were washed out completely by the weather.
Play finally began at 3:45pm, six hours after the scheduled start, once the wet outfield had dried enough. South Africa had resumed on 20 for 2 and lost a third wicket after only a couple of overs. The hosts closed after 43 overs, of which Boland bowled 14, while Mitchell Starc took 1 for 27, on a day that offered little time for batting.
Boland's wickets included debutant Marques Ackerman, caught behind for 6. Ackerman was making his first Test appearance and had never opened in first-class cricket before. Late in the day Ryan Rickelton fell for 31, caught one-handed by Matt Renshaw off Boland, ending a stand of fifty runs for the fifth wicket with captain Temba Bavuma. Bavuma remained unbeaten on 41 at the close.
Very little cricket had been possible on the opening day either. Only 12.2 overs were bowled before play was abandoned at 4.15pm local time, with South Africa on 20 for 2. Australia had won the toss and chose to bowl, and Boland made the early inroads by bowling Aiden Markram for 11 and then dismissing David Bedingham for 0 with the next ball.
Australia made a notable selection, leaving out Nathan Lyon and fielding a four-man pace attack. It is the first time since 2013 that Australia have left Lyon out of a red-ball Test. South Africa, for their part, brought back Kagiso Rabada. Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0 after winning the opening match in Durban by 214 runs. The Test is scheduled to run from 18-22 Oct 2026.
By the close South Africa had lost five wickets, among them Markram, Bedingham, Ackerman and Rickelton. Boland's figures of 4 for 31 came from 14 overs, while Starc finished with 1 for 27. Bavuma was unbeaten on 41 at the close, with the captain having shared a fifty-run stand with Rickelton. Only 43 overs were possible in the day after the long delay.
Day three takes place on Tuesday (20 Oct), with play scheduled to start at 9am local time. South Africa will resume their first innings on 97 for 5, with Bavuma unbeaten on 41. The match has so far been heavily affected by rain, with only 12.2 overs bowled on day one and the first two sessions lost on day two.
