Bavuma’s Career-Best 179 Takes South Africa To 425/9 Declared In Gqeberha

SOUTH Africa captain Temba Bavuma scored a Test career-best 179 on Day 3 of the second Test against Australia at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, on Tuesday.

His innings took the Proteas from 97/5 to 425/9 declared.

Bavuma’s 179 came off 334 balls with 18 fours and a six. It surpasses his previous highest Test score of 172.

At stumps, Australia were 3/1 after four overs, trailing by 422 runs. Kagiso Rabada struck with his fourth ball when Nic Maddinson was caught by Simon Harmer for a duck. Travis Head (1) and Scott Boland (2) closed out the day.

South Africa resumed on 97/5, with Bavuma on 41 and Wiaan Mulder on two. Mulder was dismissed for 13 at 110/6, caught by Matt Renshaw off Mitchell Starc after an Australian review was upheld.

Marco Jansen then joined Bavuma in a seventh-wicket stand of 132. Jansen reached his half-century off 43 balls and survived on 64.4 overs when a South African review overturned an on-field decision.

South Africa went to lunch on 216/6, with Bavuma on 76 and Jansen on 72. Jansen was caught by Head off Boland for 85 off 100 balls (nine fours, three sixes), shortly after Australia took the new ball, leaving South Africa on 242/7.

Bavuma reached his century off 226 balls. An Australian review against him on 94.3 overs was struck down. At tea, South Africa were 318/7, with Bavuma on 125 and Harmer on 30.

Bavuma and Harmer put on 183 for the eighth wicket. Bavuma brought up 150 off 299 balls, and Harmer reached his half-century off 116 balls.

Harmer was bowled by Marnus Labuschagne for 82 off 157 balls (10 fours, one six) with the total on 425. Bavuma was caught by Alex Carey off Starc on the next ball, and South Africa declared at 425/9 after 127.1 overs.

Boland finished with 5/81 from 29 overs, Starc took 3/89, and Labuschagne 1/8. Opener Marques Ackerman, on Test debut, scored 6.

South Africa added 328 runs on Day 3, after rain washed out most of the first day and part of the second. Only 12.2 overs were possible on Day 1, when South Africa reached 20/2, and they closed Day 2 on 97/5.

Australia won the toss and chose to field. The match is part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Day 4 starts at 09:45 local time.