Quick hits: Bavuma hides from Smith implosion as Boland outgrits batters

Temba Bavuma turns his back as Steve Smith throws his wicket away, while nightwatchman Scott Boland shows the batters how it's done as the Aussies go down in Gqeberha.

Here are the quick hits from the final day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa.

1. Head passes 100 but can't go on

Travis Head began day five needing 13 runs for a gritty, fighting century.

And after a two-hour rain delay, the punchy southpaw reached three figures with relative ease, bringing up the milestone with two leg-side boundaries against South African destroyer Marco Jansen in the sixth over of the day.

His celebrations were understandably muted given the state of the game, with his helmet staying in place as he raised his bat and a grin not even threatening to peek through his grill.

It was just Head's second overseas ton after his effort in the 2023 World Test Championship final at the Oval against India, and first against a team on its home patch.

But Head was unable to set up for the long haul his team so craved, with the Australian departing just after the first drinks break, chopping on while attempting a cut shot that was never there.

Head was out for 121 and Australia was 5-209.

2. Boland shows batters how it's done

By now, Australian cricket fans should know better than to doubt Scott Boland.

But even the most optimistic of those watching back home surely wouldn't have expected the nightwatchman to outlast both Head and Steve Smith, take his innings deep into the day and soak up a staggering 166 deliveries.

There were a couple of streaky moments, sure, but Boland made his luck more than he rode it, defending with the kind of authority and simplicity his more celebrated batting teammates were so desperately lacking throughout the Test.

He even played a few memorable shots, including an immaculate straight drive back past South Africa spearhead Kagiso Rabada.

But finally, in the second over after tea, Boland's marathon vigil was over, with Wiaan Mulder producing a jagging peach to have the brave nightwatchman bowled through the gate for a new Test best of 40.

3. Bavuma can't watch as Smith throws it away

It was the moment — and didn't Temba Bavuma know it.

The South Africa captain just couldn't watch as Steve Smith top-edged a Kagiso Rabada bouncer high into the blue Gqeberha sky, turning his back completely as Matthew Breetzke raced back and settled under the ball.

It was a rash, ugly shot from Smith, and certainly not one befitting of a man tasked with saving a Test match. 

But for a moment, it looked like he was going to get away with it.

Having just-about settled underneath the ball, Breetzke juggled once and then twice before securing the wicket that was destined to end the Australian resistance.

Smith, perhaps still struggling with his neck issue from day four, was out for 3 and Australia was 6-255.

4. Mulder does damage after tea

With four wickets still in reserve, Australia reached tea still with a sniff of pulling off one of the great escapes.

But in removing Australia's best two batters, the Proteas had already done the hard part, and there would have been no panic as they readied themselves for the game's final stanza.

And in the opening exchanges of what was being sold as a marathon, 44-over evening session, all-rounder Mulder struck not once, but twice.

First, he ended Boland with that divine off-cutter; then he produced something similarly inspired to send the newly-arrived Pat Cummins packing for 4.

At 8-262, it was all beginning to unravel.

There was only one thing that could save the Aussies now ...

5. South Africa beats descending gloom

All of a sudden, things were beginning to darken in Gqeberha. 

With ominous clouds gathering on the outskirts of the oval and ground staff poised to pounce at the boundary rope, the South Africans were in a race with the elements.

Two wickets were needed.

Well aware of the descending gloom, Bavuma threw the ball to his premier spearhead.

And Rabada delivered in the first over of his spell, bowling Mitchell Starc with the tailender attempting an ugly and wholly unnecessary slog.

But with the skies continuing to intimidate, we were treated to surely one of the most farcical drinks breaks in Test history.

Those five lost minutes, however, were not enough to save the Australians.

The heavens never did open, and number 11 Josh Hazlewood was promptly caught behind the wicket, confirming a chastening innings and 31-run defeat for Australia and a richly deserved series-levelling triumph for the South Africans.