South Africa storms back to crush Australia by an innings and level the test series 1-1

GQEBERHA, South Africa (AP) — South Africa set up a series decider with a big comeback win over Australia by an innings and 31 runs on the last day Thursday of the second cricket test at St. George’s Park.

Despite the morning session being a washout and without one frontline bowler, South Africa bowled out Australia for 295 in its second innings an hour after tea.

South Africa tied the series 1-1 and the two leaders in the World Test Championship will play for the series win in Cape Town from Tuesday.

WTC holders the Proteas rallied to seemingly save a draw when they wrapped up their rain-affected first innings late on day three Tuesday after captain Temba Bavuma’s 179 and Marco Jansen’s rapid 85.

But then Australia was shot out for 99 by Jansen’s 5-33, was forced to follow on, and remarkably lost 13 wickets in total on Wednesday. South Africa’s pace attack lost Anrich Nortje to a suspected groin injury in his fourth over and he didn’t bowl for the rest of Australia’s second innings.

Australia, resuming on 156-4, hoped on Thursday for a reduced 81 overs of rearguard action with Steve Smith and Alex Carey in reserve but unravelled once chief holdout Travis Head was dismissed.

Wiaan Mulder rebounded from a wicketless and expensive second innings on Wednesday by taking three of the six wickets South Africa needed on the fifth and final day.

Mulder bowled century-maker Head, fellow overnight fighter Scott Boland as well as Australia captain Pat Cummins.

Head, on 87 overnight, posted his 13th test century with his 12th boundary. But his natural positive intent undid him on 121 when he chopped on against Mulder. Head faced 190 balls.

Smith came in at No. 7, three places lower than usual after he got a kink in his neck in the first innings. Mulder tested Smith’s neck with a first-ball bouncer.

Smith endured the last five overs of the old ball but was out for 3 in the third over of the new ball when he mis-hit pacer Kagiso Rabada. The ball caught the wind and Matthew Breetzke bobbled the ball at midwicket but took it at the second attempt.

Boland passed his previous highest test score of 21 when he reached tea on 40 with Alex Carey.

But Boland was the seventh Australian out soon after tea when he tried to defend a come-backer from Mulder and was beaten between the gates. Boland’s resistance lasted for 166 balls to score 40.

Cummins quickly left after hitting a boundary then Rabada returned and took out Mitchell Starc with an inside edge.

Jansen finished the match when he got Josh Hazlewood to send a thick edge to slip.

Rabada took 4-77, Mulder 3-64, and Jansen finished with six wickets in the match.

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