South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the Test at St George's Park, Gqeberha, on the Australia tour of South Africa, 2026. Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first.
South Africa made 425/9 in 127.1 overs. T Bavuma anchored the innings with 179 off 334 balls, hitting 18 fours and 1 six before he was caught by Carey off Mitchell Starc. M Jansen added 85 off 100 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes, and SR Harmer contributed 82 off 157 balls. Scott Boland was Australia's leading bowler with 5 for 81 from 29 overs, while Starc took 3 for 89 from 24.1 overs.
Australia were bowled out for 99 in 42.3 overs in their first innings. SPD Smith top-scored with 28 off 88 balls, and TM Head and M Labuschagne each made 14. Marco Jansen took 5 for 33 from 11 overs, and Wiaan Mulder finished with 2 for 14 from 9.3 overs, ending the innings by having Pat Cummins caught by Breetzke.
Australia batted again and made 295 in 107.1 overs. Travis Head scored 121 off 190 balls with 15 fours before he was bowled by Mulder with the score at 209/5. Labuschagne made 39 off 98 balls and Scott Boland batted 166 balls for 40. Kagiso Rabada took 4 for 77 from 23 overs and Mulder 3 for 64 from 21 overs, with Jansen dismissing Josh Hazlewood to close the match.
Jansen's 85 with the bat and five-wicket haul in Australia's first innings stood out alongside Bavuma's 179, while Mulder took 5 wickets across the two Australian innings.
