TEST BRILLIANCE: Titanic Temba Bavuma inspires a Proteas win for the ages against Australia

{JSON.stringify(article.attachments[0], null, 2)} --> The Proteas levelled the three-match Test series against Australia with an innings and 31-run victory at St George’s Park in Gqeberha late on the fifth and final day, bowling the tourists out for 295 in their second innings.

So, on to Cape Town for the decider. The Proteas, spearheaded by the exceptional batting and captaincy of Temba Bavuma and the brilliance of the bowling unit, secured a win for the ages a little more than a week after losing the first Test in Durban .

On day five of the rain-affected clash at St George’s in Gqeberha, which saw a total of nearly two days – about 135 overs – lost to bad weather, the Proteas claimed the six wickets they needed for victory.

That was despite a fine 121 from Travis Head and a defiant 40 off 166 balls from nightwatchman Scott Boland, who also took five wickets.

Australia were bowled out for 295 late on the final day in their second innings after Bavuma enforced the follow-on. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada nabbed four for 77 in the second innings, including the big wickets of Matt Renshaw and Steve Smith.

Wiaan Mulder, with his accurate medium pace, took three for 64, while off-spinner Simon Harmer added two wickets and left-arm paceman Marco Jansen ended the match, having Josh Hazlewood caught at second slip by Aiden Markram.

Over the two innings, the bowlers divided the wickets. Rabada and Jansen, who had first innings figures of five for 33, took six wickets each. Mulder contributed five wickets, Harmer two and the injured Anrich Nortje one wicket in just 3.3 overs.

The foundation of the victory, though, was laid by Bavuma. The skipper came to the crease under dark skies late on day one during the one session when play was possible. South Africa were 12 for two at the time with deadly seamer Scott Boland on a hat-trick.

Bavuma survived and knuckled down as more wickets tumbled at the other end. After nine hours and 12 minutes at the crease, he departed for a career-best 179 via a thin edge off Mitchell Starc, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

It was a match-winning knock, quite possibly a series-winning innings and probably a career-defining performance. When he strode off to warm applause from the small crowd and pats on the back from the opposition, he declared South Africa’s innings at 425 for nine. Only one team had the chance of winning from there, but it was still a long shot.

On a pitch where the bowlers always had a chance, Bavuma’s innings was not only punctuated by an array of classy drives, cuts, pulls and vibracrete defence, but also by clarity of purpose.

Early on in his vigil, he survived with skill and bravery, and only when he was on top did he counter-punch. It was great sporting theatre, with Bavuma the main character and Jansen and Harmer playing award-winning supporting roles.

“To be able to perform like that, to be able to get the team in a very competitive position – I take a lot of pride in that,” said Bavuma in a television interview after the match.

“But also to have a chance within the series. I’ll take a lot of confidence from it. A big part of me is still in the moment.