SA vs AUS 2nd Test: South Africa win by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha, series level 1-1

Result, Thursday 22 October 2026: South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test in Gqeberha, and the three-match series is level at 1-1, ESPNcricinfo's scorecard shows. Following on 326 behind, Australia were bowled out for 295 in 107.1 overs in the final session of the fifth day.

• Kagiso Rabada took 4 for 77, and Marco Jansen finished it by removing Josh Hazlewood for his sixth wicket of the match after his 5 for 33 in the first innings.
• Travis Head and Steve Smith fell in the second session, ESPNcricinfo reported, and Scott Boland's resistance with the bat only delayed the end. Alex Carey was left unbeaten on 37.
• South Africa's 425 for 9 declared was built on a record 183-run eighth-wicket stand between Temba Bavuma and Simon Harmer, South Africa's best for that wicket in Tests, beating 150 by Shaun Pollock and Neil McKenzie.

The third and deciding Test follows; live scores for every match Pakistani fans follow are on our cricket match centre.

Updated 22 October, 7:20pm PKT. Wednesday's report follows.

Australia were bowled out for 99 and made to follow on by South Africa in the second Test in Gqeberha, and closed day four on 156 for 4, still 170 runs behind, with Travis Head unbeaten on 87, ESPNcricinfo reported. South Africa, 1-0 down in the three-match series, need six wickets on the final day to level it.

How Australia fell for 99

Marco Jansen took 5 for 33, his second five-wicket haul in three Tests, as 13 wickets fell on Wednesday. Jansen struck with the first ball of the day and had Australia 22 for 3 inside half an hour; they went to lunch on 69 for 6. Wiaan Mulder took 2 for 14 and Kagiso Rabada 2 for 33, Rabada's second wicket being his 200th in Tests at home.

• Australia's 99 is the fourth-lowest total by any side against South Africa, and their first all-out total under 100 in 69 innings, since 91 against India in Nagpur in 2023.
• It is only the third time since 1988 that South Africa have enforced the follow-on against Australia.
• Steve Smith top-scored with 28 and on the way became the 12th player, and the third Australian after Ricky Ponting and Allan Border, to reach 11,000 Test runs.

The second innings

Rabada removed Nic Maddinson for 8, and Head and Marnus Labuschagne added 92 before Labuschagne, on 39, charged Simon Harmer and was caught by Jansen at mid-on. Labuschagne has not scored a Test hundred in his last 45 Tests. Matt Renshaw was bowled by Rabada and Beau Webster lbw to Harmer, who took 2 for 47. Smith did not bat at No. 4 after hurting his neck earlier in the day.

Scores: South Africa 425 for 9 declared; Australia 99 (Smith 28; Jansen 5-33, Mulder 2-14, Rabada 2-33) and 156 for 4 (Head 87*; Rabada 2-30, Harmer 2-47).

Injuries on both sides

South Africa's fast bowler Anrich Nortje walked off in his fourth over with a suspected groin injury and is unlikely to bowl again in the match. Australia's Josh Hazlewood missed day two with food poisoning, and umpire Chris Gaffaney has been unwell, with Arno Jacobs standing in his place.

What to watch today

South Africa have 98 overs on day five. Head and the lower order must bat most of the day to save the Test. The match is part of the ICC World Test Championship, where every result shapes the table that Pakistan are also chasing. Scores and times for all of today's matches, including Pakistan's tri-series in Rawalpindi and Lahore, are on our cricket match centre and the Pakistan tri-series page.

Correction, 22 October 2026: an earlier version of this update said Marco Jansen took nine wickets in the match. He took six (5 for 33 and 1 for 34).