Bavuma’s best revives Proteas’ series hopes

Temba Bavuma delivered a career-best 179 to transform South Africa’s fortunes against Australia, lifting the Proteas from the threat of another batting collapse into contention for a series-levelling victory.

His fifth Test century, and first against Australia, anchored South Africa’s recovery to 425 for nine declared on the third day of the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

Australia closed on three for one after Kagiso Rabada struck in his opening over, Andrew McGlashan reported for Cricinfo.

South Africa had resumed on 97 for five following two rain-disrupted days. Bavuma’s resistance, supported by substantial contributions from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer, turned a precarious innings into a formidable total.

Jansen made 85 and Harmer a Test-best 82, helping their captain wrest the initiative from an Australian attack led by Scott Boland.

Bavuma’s innings combined patient defence with increasingly assured strokeplay, giving South Africa a platform from which to attack after their defeat in the opening Test.

The captain described it afterwards as one of his better innings, expressing satisfaction that he had converted another difficult rescue assignment into a substantial score.

With rain having removed much of the first two days, time remained a significant obstacle. South Africa entered Wednesday’s fourth day needing wickets quickly to turn their recovery into victory.

Sources: Reuters and The Guardian, 20 October.