Bavuma's Defiant 179 Puts South Africa in Control Against Australia on Day Three
South Africa declared with a substantial lead, leaving Australia with a challenging task ahead in the second Test.
The story
At St George's Park, South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma delivered a masterclass on day three of the second Test against Australia, scoring a defiant 179 to turn the tide for the Proteas. Resuming on 97 for 5, South Africa rallied around Bavuma, who built crucial partnerships with Marco Jansen (85) and Simon Harmer (82).
The trio propelled South Africa to a commanding 425/9 declared, frustrating the Australian attack. Scott Boland was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, claiming five wickets.
In response, Australia faced a hostile spell from Kagiso Rabada, who dismissed Nic Maddinson for a duck, leaving the visitors at 3/1 at stumps, trailing by 422 runs. The stage is now set for a gripping fourth day, with South Africa firmly in the driver's seat.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs England | ODI | Pakistan won by 87 runs | Arafat Minhas (59 runs & 2/38) |
| South Africa vs Australia | Test | Day 3 stumps; Australia (3/1) trail South Africa (425/9d) by 422 runs | Temba Bavuma (179) |
| Uganda vs Zambia | T20 | Uganda won by 87 runs | Olipa Gerald (82 off 42) |
| Lesotho vs Mozambique | T20 | Lesotho won by 74 runs | Mohmed Duvesh Patel (63 off 45) |
| Nigeria vs Gambia | T20 | Nigeria won by 160 runs | Selim Salau (105* off 58) |
Series in play
Australia tour of South Africa, 2026. 2nd Test, Day 3 concluded; South Africa lead by 422 runs with Australia 3/1
Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, 2026. Pakistan lead the series after winning their first two matches.
ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier C 2026. Group stage matches ongoing.
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| World Test Championship 2025-27 | Australia (1st), India (5th) | Australia leads with an 87.50 PCT, as teams vie for the June 2027 final at Lord's. |
| ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings | India (1st) | India retained the top spot in the latest annual update. |
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | England (1st), India (2nd) | England and India are tied at the top with 269 rating points. |
What we'll be watching
- South Africa vs Australia [Test], 2nd Test, Day 4, at St George's Park (2026-10-21)
- Afghanistan vs Bangladesh [ODI], 3rd Match, ODI Tri-Nation Series in UAE, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium (2026-10-21)
- Lesotho vs Uganda [T20], 5th Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier C, in Nigeria (2026-10-21)
- New Zealand vs India [T20I], 1st T20I, India tour of New Zealand 2026, at Hagley Oval (2026-10-22)
- Namibia vs Ireland [ODI], 1st ODI, Ireland tour of Namibia, at High Performance Oval (2026-10-22)
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.