South Africa believe they can still secure a win in the second World Test Championship match against Australia despite heavy rain affecting play. The Proteas were 97 for 5 at St George's Park following two days of rain-interrupted play.
Australia chose an all-seam bowling strategy in Gqeberha to exploit the conditions. Scott Boland took 4 wickets for 31 runs during the match.
The Australian bowler finished his overall figures with five for 81. Boland stated, "I like to play every game I can" and added, "My mindset is to find my line and length quickly."
Ashwell Prince noted that Boland "doesn't miss his spot very often" while describing the soft pitch and moving ball. South Africa lost the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs.
Temba Bavuma scored 179 runs off 334 balls, including 18 fours and a six. Bavuma shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 132 runs with Marco Jansen, who scored 85 runs.
The captain also added 182 runs for the eighth wicket with Simon Harmer, who scored 82. Bavuma said, "You don’t always feel like you’re in" and explained that the ball would nibble off a good length before getting soft.
The Proteas declared their first innings at 425 for nine. Australia were three for one at the close of the innings.
Kagiso Rabada caught Nic Maddinson for a duck with the fourth ball of the Australian innings. Rabada missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury, while Josh Hazlewood was off the field with illness on Monday.
Bavuma said, "I think we’ve given ourselves a chance." The third Test is scheduled for next week in Cape Town.
