South Africa stormed to a 425‑9 declaration at St George’s Park in Gqeberha after a 315‑run flurry, while Pat Cummins finished wicketless 0/96.
The turnaround began when Wiaan Mulder fell for 13 to Mitchell Starc, who took his 450th Test wicket. Bavuma and Jansen steadied the innings with a 132‑run seventh‑wicket partnership before Jansen was dismissed by Scott Boland, who finished with five for 81. Harmer joined Bavuma and the pair added 183 runs for the eighth wicket, with Harmer’s maiden half‑century punctuated by ten fours and a six.
Cummins’ 0/96 remains the second‑most expensive wicketless return of his career, surpassed only by 0/101 against India in 2019. The 315‑run surge is the second‑highest total after losing the sixth wicket in Test history, just shy of the 318 runs the Proteas added against Australia in Melbourne in 2008.
Australia lost Nic Maddinson to a four‑ball duck at the hands of Kagiso Rabada, leaving them 3‑1 at stumps. The win leaves Australia trailing 1‑0 in the three‑match series, with a decisive final Test slated for Durban next week.