South Africa beat Australia to level Test series

South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George’s Park on October 22, levelling the three-match series and setting up a decider in Cape Town. The hosts completed the win on the fifth day after rain delayed play and washed out the morning session. Australia resumed its second innings needing to bat through the day to avoid defeat. Travis Head scored 121, while nightwatchman Scott Boland made 40 from 166 deliveries as the pair delayed South Africa’s push for victory. Wiaan Mulder dismissed both, and Australia was eventually bowled out for 295. Marco Jansen took the final wicket, dismissing Josh Hazlewood. The result followed South Africa’s first-innings total of 425 for nine, declared, built around captain Temba Bavuma’s 179. The hosts had been 110 for six before Bavuma and Marco Jansen, who scored 85, helped revive the innings. South Africa then added runs through the lower order, including Simon Harmer’s 82, before declaring with a 133-run lead. Australia was dismissed for 99 in its first innings and was made to follow on. Jansen took five wickets in that innings, while Kagiso Rabada finished with four. Australia’s second-innings...