Australia’s captain Pat Cummins (AP Photo)
Australia captain Pat Cummins endured a difficult outing with the ball as South Africa mounted a remarkable recovery in the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, with his figures of 0/96 ranking as the second-most expensive wicketless return of his career. Captain Temba Bavuma led the fightback with a career-best 179, while Marco Jansen scored 85 and Simon Harmer contributed 82. Australia lost Nic Maddinson for a four-ball duck to Kagiso Rabada late in the day and were 3-1 at stumps. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs and lead the three-match series 1-0.
South Africa’s lower order made the most of the opportunity after the hosts lost their sixth wicket early in the morning session.
South Africa scored 315 runs after losing their sixth wicket, the second-highest such total in a Test innings. Their effort fell just short of the 318 runs they added against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2008. Australia have also conceded only one higher total after taking the sixth wicket: the 363 runs West Indies scored at Bridgetown in 1955.
The recovery was particularly significant in statistical terms.