SA vs AUS 2nd Test Results

2:33 PM IST The skipper of Australia - Pat Cummins reflects on the defeat. Mentions that they did show some good fight with the bat, singling out the way Head and Boland resisted for a good period of time. He admits that Australia were a long way away from their best. Adds that while everyone contributed in the previous week despite a slow start in Durban, Cummins feels not enough players stood up across the board this time. Cummins defends Australia's team balance, saying they are fortunate to have plenty of all-rounders to call upon and does not see it as an issue. He points to Boland and Head's innings as the blueprint, stressing the need to weather the storm against quality bowlers while knowing that runs are available. With the series level at 1-1, Cummins says Australia have a few days to assess where things went wrong, adding that the pitch was good and that the match mirrored last week's contest, with one side seizing early wickets and suffocating the other.

2:33 PM IST Test cricket, you beautiful thing - Two days into this Test, a South Africa win seemed the least likely of the possible outcomes, and it looked like Australia's game to lose. And lose they did. The Proteas showed why they are the current holders of the WTC mace, pulling off a remarkable turnaround to level the series. The two teams now head to Cape Town for the decider, where the infamous 'Sandpapergate' unfolded in 2018. The third Test begins on Tuesday, 27th October, and we hope the crowd turns up in full voice for what promises to be a cracking contest. The first ball will be bowled at 8.30 am GMT, but as always, we will be here nice and early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

2:27 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The captain of South Africa, Temba Bavuma, takes home the award for his phenomenal knock of 179 to pull his side out of trouble. When asked how his heart rate is, he says it is settled now and jokes that the weather also wanted to have a say in the game. Shares that the team were scrambling in the change room as they waited for the weather to clear and were excited at the prospect of getting back on the field. He rates his knock among his best, pointing out that batting was difficult throughout the match. He takes a lot of pride in the effort and says it will give him plenty of confidence, but adds that there is still one Test to go and he will allow himself to soak it all in once the series is over. He also praises the contributions of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Wiaan Mulder across this Test. Bavuma hopes those performances continue to get better and better. He says the key was to stay in the moment, whether that meant extending their time at the crease by another hour or another session, and being ruthless when the opportunity came. Mentions that they pride themselves on playing good, old-fashioned Test cricket and wearing the opposition down. On Nortje's absence, he admits it is a big loss given the extra dimension he brings to the attack. In hindsight, he feels they took a risk by playing him in back-to-back games. However, he is confident they have options available and says they will make a decision when they head to Cape Town.

2:18 PM IST Damage done in the first dig - The Proteas quicks were all over Australia in their first innings, and the tourists did themselves no favours with their shot selection. Jansen picked up a five-wicket haul, stepping up at a time when Anrich Nortje was sidelined with a groin issue. South Africa secured a massive 326-run lead and asked Australia to follow on. The tourists showed a lot more fight in their second innings, led by Travis Head, who made the most of being dropped on 5 by Jansen to score his second Test century away from home. Rain delayed the start on the final day, and Head and nightwatchman Scott Boland made South Africa work hard, with Boland facing 166 balls. But once Wiaan Mulder breached Boland's defence, the Proteas were able to finish the job and level the series.

2:16 PM IST Time for the presentation ceremony...

2:06 PM IST How it all started - It was a wet start to the Test, with two rain-affected days allowing only 43 overs to be bowled. Things got off to a troublesome start for the hosts after they were asked to bat first. Brought in at the expense of Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland made most of the early inroads to leave the Proteas in all sorts of trouble at 110/6 and went on to pick up a five-wicket haul. Temba Bavuma held it all together, and his career-best 179 helped South Africa put together a solid recovery. The tide began to turn through Marco Jansen's counterpunch before a record 8th-wicket stand of 183 between Bavuma and Simon Harmer helped South Africa recover further.