Bavuma's career-best 179 carries South Africa to 425 for 9 declared in Gqeberha

Temba Bavuma batted for more than nine hours at St George's Park to turn a first-innings collapse into a commanding South African total against Australia

South Africa declared on 425 for 9 from 127.1 overs on the third day of the second Test in Gqeberha, their captain's 179 the highest score of his Test career.

Australia, who won the toss and bowled, closed on 3 for 1 from four overs. They trail by 422 runs and are 222 short of the total that would avoid the follow-on.

It was a position few would have forecast when the day began. South Africa resumed on 97 for 5 and lost Wiaan Mulder for 13 to slip to 110 for 6, at which point Bavuma took the innings over.

A captain's innings from 110 for 6

Bavuma faced 334 balls for his 179, hitting 18 fours and a six on a surface that had belonged to the bowlers through two rain-shortened days.

He had walked in early on a pitch offering seam movement and sideways bounce. "I walked into a very tricky situation," Bavuma said after the day's play. "We had just lost two early wickets."

Asked about batting under that sort of pressure, he said it "seems to bring out the best in me", adding: "I pride myself on getting the team into a competitive position."

He was eventually caught behind by Alex Carey off Mitchell Starc, 21 short of a maiden Test double hundred.

Two stands that changed the match

Marco Jansen joined Bavuma at 110 for 6 and counter-attacked, making 85 from 100 balls with nine fours and three sixes. The pair added 132 for the seventh wicket and carried South Africa to 242.

Simon Harmer then stayed with his captain for the rest of the innings, making 82, his highest score in Test cricket, before Marnus Labuschagne bowled him.

Their eighth-wicket partnership was worth 183, a South African record for the wicket in Tests.

Boland's five-for on the wrong side of the day

Scott Boland was the one Australian bowler to hold his line through the long afternoon, finishing with 5-81 from 29 overs, seven of them maidens.

Starc took 3-89 from 24.1 overs and Labuschagne's part-time spin brought 1-8. Pat Cummins went wicketless for 96 from 26 overs, Josh Hazlewood 0-43 and Beau Webster 0-43 from 19.

Australia had taken five wickets for 97 across the first two rain-hit days. The four that followed cost them 328 runs.

Rabada returns and removes Maddinson

Kagiso Rabada, playing his first Test of the series after a hamstring injury, struck in the fourth over of the reply. Nic Maddinson edged to Harmer at third slip for a duck.

Travis Head was 1 not out at the close with Boland, sent in as nightwatchman, on 2.

A series to save with two days left

Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, and the third is in Cape Town next week.

South Africa, the reigning world Test champions, need a result here to keep the series alive, and Bavuma acknowledged that forcing one in two days will not be straightforward.

He said the way the batting held up would at least send the side to Cape Town with something to draw on.

Scorecard: South Africa 425 for 9 declared (Bavuma 179, Jansen 85, Harmer 82; Boland 5-81, Starc 3-89) lead Australia 3 for 1 by 422 runs at stumps on day three of the second Test at St George's Park, Gqeberha.

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