Cricket: Bavuma turns the day on its head, Rabada strikes early
With 179 and support from Jansen then Harmer, the captain guided the Proteas to 425/9 declared. Australia end the third day on 3/1.
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Temba Bavuma led South Africa to 425 for nine on Tuesday in Gqeberha, before Kagiso Rabada took the first Australian wicket. At the close of the third day of the second Test, Australia had scored only three runs for the loss of one wicket. They trail South Africa's first innings by 422 runs.
The turnaround bears the captain's stamp: 179 off 334 balls, his highest Test score. Bavuma found the two partners the Proteas had lacked after the previous day's struggles: Marco Jansen, who made 85, then Simon Harmer, who added 82.
Jansen shifts the tempo at 110 for six
South Africa resumed on 97 for five, after two days shortened by rain. The dismissal of Wiaan Mulder, caught by Matt Renshaw off Mitchell Starc for 13, further weakened the innings. At 110 for six, the South Africans had only four wickets left to build their total.
Jansen responded with attack. He reached 50 off 43 balls, then finished with nine fours and three sixes. His partnership with Bavuma yielded 132 runs. Scott Boland ended it with the new ball, getting Jansen caught by Travis Head at 242 for seven. It was his fifth wicket.
Harmer prolongs the resistance
Bavuma then reached his fifth Test century, his first against Australia. Harmer extended the effort: the two men added 183 for the eighth wicket, taking the total from 242 to 425. The captain hit 18 fours and one six over the course of his innings.
Harmer was dismissed for 82 by Marnus Labuschagne, then Bavuma was caught behind by Alex Carey off Starc, with no addition to the team total between the two wickets. South Africa then declared, deliberately closing their first innings to send Australia in to bat.
Rabada made the most of that short window. With his fourth ball, Nic Maddinson was caught by Harmer without scoring. Travis Head, on one, and Boland, on two, survived to the close after four overs. The Test is still in the balance: on Wednesday, the Proteas will look to keep up the pressure on the nine Australian wickets still standing in this innings.