South Africa level series with innings win over Australia

South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at Gqeberha, levelling the three-match series 1-1 and setting up a decider in Cape Town. The result came despite rain interrupting play and left Australia’s batting and team selection under scrutiny after a heavy defeat. Australia were dismissed for 99 in their first innings and made 295 in their second. Travis Head scored 121, while nightwatchman Scott Boland resisted for 40 off 166 deliveries. Alex Carey finished unbeaten on 37. South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder took five wickets in Australia’s second innings, and Kagiso Rabada claimed four. Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side had been well below its best and that selectors would discuss whether to retain players or make changes for the third Test. He praised Head and Boland’s resistance but said the team had not contributed enough across the match. Australia had won the first Test by 214 runs. Marnus Labuschagne is among the players whose place has drawn attention after scores of 37, 37, 14 and 39 across the first two Tests. Cummins said Labuschagne had done the difficult part by getting in, but needed to turn his starts into larger scores. He said...