Australia were bowled out for 99 in the first innings, a stark reminder that the Australians were struggling against South Africa's potent attack. In the same breath, Steve Smith's 28 off 88 provided a touch of resilience, keeping the scoreboard from collapsing entirely.
Smith's 28 was the 2,500th run of his career, pushing him over the 11,000‑run threshold in 226 innings—a feat that places him among the fastest to reach the landmark.
South Africa’s batting made the difference, with captain Temba Bavuma's 179 and Marco Jansen's 85 ensuring a 304‑run lead. Jansen's five wickets in the first innings forced Australia into the follow‑on, and Mulder's dismissal of Smith was the final blow.
With the milestone, Smith joins Ricky Ponting and Allan Border as the only Australians in the exclusive 11,000‑run club. He now sits just behind Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara's record of 208 innings, underscoring his consistency and cementing his place among the greats.
Australia will now shift focus to the third Test at St George's Park, eager to overturn the deficit and finish the series on a stronger note.