AB de Villiers posted on X as Australia’s first innings fell apart on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha. South Africa bowled them out for 99, and Temba Bavuma enforced the follow-on with a 326-run lead.
“This Proteas team’s got some balls!”
AB de Villiers, X, 21 October 2026
This Proteas team’s got some balls!
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 21, 2026
The collapse came a day after Bavuma’s 179 took South Africa to 425/9 declared. The 99 made the headlines. The braver call came after it, when Bavuma sent Australia back in with one fast bowler injured and another on a workload limit.
South Africa started this Test 0-1 down after losing by 214 runs in Durban. They were 97/5 at stumps on day two. Bavuma then added 132 with Marco Jansen, who hit 85 off 100 balls, and 183 with Simon Harmer, who made 82.
Jansen then took 5-33 from 11 overs. He removed nightwatchman Scott Boland, Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey and Beau Webster. Renshaw and Carey fell in the same over, both with the score on 65.
Steve Smith top-scored with 28 off 88 balls while batting through a neck problem, before Wiaan Mulder bowled him. No other Australian passed 20. The innings lasted 42.3 overs.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Jansen | 11 | 33 | 5 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 12 | 33 | 2 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 9.3 | 14 | 2 |
| Anrich Nortje | 3.3 | 5 | 1 |
South Africa are breathing fire on Day 4 of the 2nd Test! 🥶🔥
#Cricket #Test #SAvAUS https://t.co/mKJG0pQi1n
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) October 21, 2026
Insider Read
Batting again was the comfortable option. Nortje had limped off with a groin problem after 3.3 overs, and Rabada was bowling in his comeback Test. When a bowler has just walked off after an innings, he wants his feet up while the batters build a 500 lead from the balcony.
Rain had wiped out most of the first two days, though, and a draw leaves Australia ahead with one Test to play. Batting again would have burned the time South Africa needed to win. If Australia bat for a full day, four tired bowlers go again with no break, and South Africa could end up chasing on a fifth-day pitch. De Villiers saw a captain trusting tired legs instead of the safe option.
From ‘Genuine Grind’ to Follow-On
Before the series, de Villiers expected low scores and hard cricket.
“It’s going to be a genuine grind.”
AB de Villiers, Keepin’ it Cricket podcast, reported 1 October 2026
The grind arrived in Durban. In Gqeberha, South Africa have pushed back. Rabada removed Nic Maddinson for 8 early in the follow-on before he was taken off after a short spell to manage his workload. Australia reached 45/1 in the second session, still 281 behind. The third Test starts in Cape Town on 27 October.
Also Read
