South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, levelling the series at 1-1. Travis Head scored 121 and Scott Boland made 40 as the visitors resisted on the final day. Rain delayed the start of play, but Australia's hopes faded once Head and Boland were dismissed. Pat Cummins said the team was well short of its best. The final Test starts on Tuesday at Newlands in Cape Town, with the series on the line.
Australia trails South Africa by 170 runs with six wickets in hand and one day remaining in the second Test at St George's Park. The team was bowled out for 99 and forced to follow on.
Ben McDermott and Jake Doran are set to be key figures in Tasmania's round two Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, which could go either way. After 14 wickets fell on Tuesday at Bellerive Oval, the pair rescued the home side for the second day running. Tasmania reached 4-39 at stumps, a lead of 73, with McDermott unbeaten on 12 and Doran on 14. Victoria had been well placed before Mitch Owen took 4-58 and Marcus Bean took 3-32, sparking a collapse.
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South Africa has taken control of the second Test against Australia. Captain Temba Bavuma scored 179 on day three, helping his side reach 9-425 declared after starting the day at 5-97. Marco Jansen made 85 and Simon Harmer made 82 as the lower order added crucial runs. Scott Boland took five wickets for Australia, while Mitchell Starc dismissed Bavuma. Australia finished the day at 1-3, with Travis Head and Scott Boland at the crease.
Matt Renshaw took his maiden Test wicket, having Temba Bavuma caught at short leg as South Africa slipped to 4-102 at stumps in Durban. South Africa still need 319 runs to win the first Test against Australia. Earlier, Renshaw scored 82 and Pat Cummins hit an explosive 32 from 12 balls, helping Australia declare at 6-314. Aiden Markram remains unbeaten on 45, with Wiaan Mulder on 5 not out, setting up a final day of play.
Australia closed day three of the first Test in Durban at 0-33, holding a 139-run lead over South Africa. Nic Maddinson hit an early boundary off Marco Jansen and later struck Wiaan Mulder for six. South Africa lost wickets to aggressive shots against Pat Cummins' short balls. Bad light has repeatedly interrupted play and cut short the days, a concern for Australia as they seek to win the match. Australia resume with Maddinson and Travis Head at the crease.
Josh Schonafinger and Jack Paynter are covering the first Test between Australia and South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban. The title reports that Josh Hazlewood took his career-best figures and helped Australia seal a first Test win in the series. The match centre pages list upcoming fixtures for the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, from 18 to 22 October 2026, and the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town, from 27 to 31 October 2026. Full scorecards and wicket replays are linked from the live coverage.
NSW pacemen Bryce Jackson and Jake Scott took nine wickets on their Sheffield Shield debuts. Jackson moved from WA after failing to break into their Shield team, despite being their leading domestic one-day wicket-taker. Tasmania reached 9-241 at stumps after NSW won the toss in Sydney. Ben McDermott scored 77, reaching 3500 Shield runs, while Caleb Jewell made 50. Scott also scored an unbeaten 52 in a recent One-Day Cup match against Queensland.
Victoria debutant Harry Hoekstra took four wickets, but South Australia's batters built a 108-run lead on day two of their Sheffield Shield match. SA captain Ben Manenti, Jake Lehmann and Henry Hunt scored 92 not out, 90 and 71 respectively, helping their team reach 6-352 at stumps. Hoekstra, who also top-scored for Victoria, dismissed key players including Jake Weatherald and Lehmann. South Australia's lead was further boosted by an unbeaten 89-run stand between Manenti and Noah McFadyen.
