10/21/2026 11:41:00
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10/21 11:39 CDT Australia trails by 170 runs at stumps on Day 4 after South
Africa enforces follow-on
Australia trails by 170 runs at stumps on Day 4 after South Africa enforces
follow-on
GQEBERHA, South Africa (AP) --- Travis Head led with 87 not out as Australia
finished day four at 156-4 in its second innings in the second cricket test
against South Africa on Wednesday, still trailing by 170 runs.
Head hit nine fours and faced 138 deliveries, with Scott Boland (2 not out)
also on nightwatchman duty.
South Africa enforced the follow-on after Marco Jansen took 5-33 in Australia's
first innings. The visitors were bowled out for 99 runs, conceding a lead of
326 runs in reply to the Proteas' 425-9 declared. Skipper Temba Bavuma had led
South Africa's revival with a career-best 179.
It was the fourth lowest innings' total for Australia, and the third highest
lead conceded in tests against South Africa.
Australia was down to 69-6 at lunch on day four, with Jansen picking four
wickets in the morning session.
Jansen struck early in the morning after Australia started at 3-1 overnight.
Boland was the first to go as he was caught behind off Jansen on the seventh
ball of the day.
Travis Head was then out lbw for 14 -- again to Jansen -- after a review. Simon
Harmer took a superb catch at gully to send back Marnus Labuschagne (14) off
Anrich Nortje with Australia reduced to 45-4 in 14 overs.
Nortje could only manage another 2.3 overs before a lower-body injury forced
him to walk off, leaving the Proteas a bowler short for the remainder of the
match.
Matt Renshaw (12) and Steve Smith nearly batted out the second hour of play
without any further damage, but Jansen struck twice in one over before lunch.
Renshaw was caught at third slip and Alex Carey was caught behind for a duck
two balls later with Australia down to 65-6.
Post lunch, Jansen completed his fifth five-wicket haul in tests as Mitchell
Starc (1) was caught behind. Smith top-scored for Australia with 28 off 88
balls, also copping a blow to his helmet in the interim.
Kagiso Rabada took 2-33 on his return from injury, while Wiaan Mulder picked
2-14 as Australia's first innings finished just before drinks in the second
session.
Despite Nortje's injury, South Africa enforced the follow-on and Rabada hit
early in the second innings as Nic Maddinson's poor tour continued when he was
caught behind for eight.
But Head and Labuschagne added 92 off 176 balls for the second wicket to stem
the rot for Australia.
Australia was 50-1 at tea and Labuschagne fell 11 overs after the break. He hit
out against Simon Harmer and was caught at deep mid on by Jansen.
Rabada made it a double blow with Matt Renshaw bowled for 11. Head meanwhile
reached 50 off 81 balls and added 27 runs with Beau Webster. The latter was out
lbw to Harmer just ahead of stumps.
Smith didn't come out to bat after the hit he took in the first innings earlier
in the day. He will undergo another concussion test after a similar incident in
the first test.
Australia won the first test in Durban by 214 runs and leads the three-match
series 1-0.
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