South Africa Declare 425 for 9 as Temba Bavuma Hits 179 Against Australia in Second Test
Temba Bavuma made a career best 179 and South Africa declared on 425 for 9 against Australia at Gqeberha on 20 October. Australia closed day three on 3 for 1.
Short answer: Temba Bavuma scored a career best 179 on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and South Africa declared their first innings at 425 for 9 in the second Test against Australia at St George's Park, Gqeberha. Australia ended day three at 3 for 1. Bavuma and Simon Harmer added a South African Test record 182 for the eighth wicket.
South Africa began day three at 97 for 5, so most of the 425 came in one long day. The figures below come from published match reports. We could not open the home board's own scorecard, so treat each number as reported. For readers in Pakistan, the match is a useful look at how a Test innings is rebuilt after five early wickets.
Bavuma made 179 off 334 balls in over nine hours
Bavuma's 179 is a career best. He faced 334 balls, hit 18 fours and one six, and batted for more than nine hours. South Africa were 97 for 5 overnight, so his innings was the reason the team passed 400.
His strike rate was 53.6, which is 179 runs off 334 balls. That is a patient rate, normal for a Test innings built over a full day.
| Batter | Runs | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma | 179 | 334 balls, 18 fours, 1 six |
| Marco Jansen | 85 | Out to Scott Boland, clipped to midwicket |
| Simon Harmer | 82 | Added 182 with Bavuma for the eighth wicket |
Bavuma and Harmer set a South African Test record of 182
Bavuma and Simon Harmer put on 182 for the eighth wicket, a South African Test record for that wicket, as reported. Eighth wicket stands rarely pass 100, because the batters left are usually bowlers.
Marco Jansen made 85 and shared a century stand with Bavuma earlier in the day. Harmer, who came in as a spinner, scored 82. So South Africa had two century partnerships, one with Jansen and one with Harmer, after being 97 for 5.
Scott Boland took five wickets for 81 for Australia
Scott Boland took 5 for 81 and was Australia's best bowler. He also dismissed Jansen, who clipped a ball to midwicket. Josh Hazlewood could not bowl until after lunch because of illness, which left Australia a bowler short for the morning.
A bowler who is unwell does not bowl, and the captain has to share overs among the others. That is why a stand of 182 for the eighth wicket is possible. The report does not say how much the illness changed the day.
Australia ended day three at 3 for 1
South Africa declared at 425 for 9, and Australia batted for a short spell at the end of the day. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Nic Maddinson for a duck, with Harmer taking the catch at third slip. Travis Head and nightwatchman Scott Boland survived to the close at 3 for 1.
- A declaration means the batting side ends its own innings early.
- It lets the bowling side start batting while the pitch is still good.
- A nightwatchman is a lower order batter sent in to protect a better batter near the close of the day.
- Australia now bat in reply to the 425, with nine wickets in hand.
The idea is the same one that sits in the ICC rules on 90 overs a day, follow ons and reviews. A side can declare, and a side that leads by enough can also enforce the follow on.
The third Test is in Cape Town the following week
The series moves to Cape Town for the third Test the following week. We could not confirm the exact start date on an official page, so we do not give one. Check the home board's fixtures page before you plan to watch.
For Pakistan readers, the Test ranking table is where this series matters, because points from each series move the ratings. Pakistan's own position, ninth before the Sri Lanka series, is on the Pakistan ICC Test ranking page.
Common questions
What did Temba Bavuma score on 20 October 2026?
Bavuma scored 179 off 334 balls with 18 fours and one six. It is a career best, as reported.
What was South Africa's total?
South Africa declared their first innings at 425 for 9. They had been 97 for 5 overnight on day three.
What is the South African eighth wicket record?
Bavuma and Simon Harmer added 182 for the eighth wicket, reported as a South African Test record for that wicket.
What was Australia's score at the close?
Australia were 3 for 1 at the close of day three. Nic Maddinson was out for a duck to Kagiso Rabada.
Who took five wickets for Australia?
Scott Boland took 5 for 81. He also came in as nightwatchman at the end of the day.
Where is the third Test?
The third Test is at Cape Town, the following week. We did not find the date on an official page.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 21 October 2026. We read two published match reports and the ICC page on the playing conditions on 21 October 2026. Cricket South Africa's scorecard page did not load for us, so the scores, the partnership record and the Boland figures are reported, not confirmed on the board's own page. The match reports do not name the Australian toss decision, the first Test result or the date of the third Test, and we do not state them. The strike rate of 53.6 is our own arithmetic.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
