Sport · India Bureau
Australia faces uphill battle as South Africa tightens stranglehold in second Test
Australia trails by 170 runs heading into the final day of the second Test against South Africa, with Travis Head's unbeaten 87 offering hope of a fightback. The visitors face a daunting task after being enforced to follow-on following their first-innings collapse to just 99 runs.
LSN India ·
Travis Head provided the lone bright spot for Australia on day four of the second Test in South Africa, remaining unbeaten on 87 as the tourists reached 156 for four at stumps on Wednesday. Head's measured innings, featuring nine boundaries across 138 deliveries, offered a glimmer of resilience after Australia's disastrous first innings.
The South African bowling attack had dismantled Australia's batting order earlier in the day, with pace bowler Marco Jansen claiming four wickets during the morning session to add to his five-wicket haul from the first innings. Jansen's 5-33 triggered the follow-on after Australia was bowled out for just 99 runs—their fourth-lowest innings total in Test history. Scott Boland was dismissed in the opening over of day four, caught behind off Jansen's bowling.
South Africa's first-innings total of 425 for nine declared, built on the back of captain Temba Bavuma's career-best 179, has left Australia in a precarious position. The deficit of 170 runs represented the third-highest lead conceded by Australia in Tests against the Proteas. With Australia reduced to 69 for six at lunch before Head and Boland stabilized the innings, the visitors face a mountainous task on the final day to salvage a result.