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Quick hits: Bavuma hides from Smith implosion as Boland outgrits batters

ABC News Australia •
October 22, 2026 • 07:30 PM
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Temba Bavuma turns his back as Steve Smith throws his wicket away, while Scott Boland shows the batters how it's done as the Aussies go down in Gqeberha. Here are the quick hits from the final day of the second Test.

Quick hits: Bavuma hides from Smith implosion as Boland outgrits batters

Fri, 11 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 117, AAW 4/121

Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 235, AUS 8/294

Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 7/148, AAW 2/178

Wed, 16 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 161, AAW 5/168

Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 272, AUS 6/356

Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 6/182, AUU 7/175

Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 9/238, SAM 0/58

Fri, 18 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 7/335, VIC 7/339

Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 8/271, AUS 9/272

Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/239, AAW 235

Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 115, TAS 1/117

Sun, 20 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 7/341, AUU 239

Mon, 21 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 358, NSW 6/359

Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/338, AAW 8/341

Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 4/255, AUU 254

Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAM 7/383, TAS 8/376

Wed, 23 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 8/297, AUS 230

Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/364, AAW 9/362

Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 334 & 199, AUA 171 & 200

Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIC 212, NSW 257

Sat, 26 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 9/365, AUS 333

Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 494, AUU 217 & 229

Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 4/168, QUW 167

Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIW 8/293, SAS 7/290

Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 6/236, TAW 232

Tue, 29 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 4/145, AUS 9/322

Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 364 & 257, AAW 176 & 164

Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 174, QUW 4/285

Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 7/273, TAW 7/299

Thu, 1 Oct, 2:00 pm, Final score, VIW -, SAS -

Thu, 1 Oct, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 167 & 9/310, AUA 358 & 4/173d

Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 149, AUA 274

Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, QUW 9/266, BAW 7/196

Wed, 7 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INU 315 & 0/11, AUU 174 & 151

Fri, 9 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 3/168, BAW 166

Fri, 9 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 206, AUA 275

Sat, 10 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, VIC 244 & 224, SAM 508

Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 1/222, BAW 6/220

Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 275, AUA 226

Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, NSW 9/500d, TAS 245 & 5/402

Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 175 & 8/201, QUE 307 & 68

Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, VIC 241, SAM 311

Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, HHW 7/127, ACM 100

Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 3/136, BHW 90

Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 7/138, PSW 4/139

Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 3/79, MSW 78

Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAF 284 & 206, AUS 390 & 6/314d

Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, NSW 158, TAS 203

Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 246, QUE 261

Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 3/78, ACM 7/77

Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 4/183, PSW 8/182

Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW -, BHW -

Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 2/175, BAW 172

Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 4/180, MSW 6/179

Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 5/165, HHW 8/136

Fri, 16 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, BHW 4/86, ACM 83

Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAM 7/397, QUE 271

Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, HHW 5/136, PSW 8/166

Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 5/122, MRW 9/121

Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ACM 4/129, MSW 6/132

Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 9/105, ASW 6/143

Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 8/165, NZW 2/162

Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 2/132, HHW 8/129

Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, BHW 129, ASW 6/139

Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 2/93, PSW 92

Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 8/155, MSW 5/158

Sun, 18 Oct, 7:15 pm, Live score, AUW -, BAW -

Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 7/167, NZW 8/127

Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 6/116, PSW 5/118

Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 9/152, SSW 6/153

Tue, 20 Oct, 7:15 pm, Live score, AUW -, BAW -

Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAM 203 & 145, QUE 238 & 4/114

Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, PSW 7/134, SSW 8/149

Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAF 9/425d, AUS 99 & 295 f/o

Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW -, NZW 2/11

Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, TAS 241 & 236, VIC 207 & 266

Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 339 & 9/244, NSW 6/440d & 5/262d

Thu, 22 Oct, 7:15 pm, Live score, AUW -, BAW -

Sat, 24 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus VIC

Sat, 24 Oct, 5:00 pm, Game not started, WAU versus NSW

Tue, 27 Oct, 7:30 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS

Wed, 28 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus WAU

Thu, 29 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus STW

Thu, 29 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus HHW

Fri, 30 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus NSW

Fri, 30 Oct, 11:45 am, Game not started, AU6 versus ONG

Fri, 30 Oct, 7:05 pm, Game not started, EN6 versus AU6

Fri, 30 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus SSW

Sat, 31 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus VIC

Sat, 31 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MSW

Sat, 31 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MRW

Sun, 1 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW

Sun, 1 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus HHW

Mon, 2 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus PSW

Wed, 4 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus MRW

Thu, 5 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus BHW

Thu, 5 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW

Fri, 6 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus SSW

Sat, 7 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus ENG

Sat, 7 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus ASW

Sat, 7 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus HHW

Sun, 8 Nov, 1:40 pm, Game not started, SSW versus STW

Sun, 8 Nov, 5:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MSW

Tue, 10 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus ASW

Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM

Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus WAU

Wed, 11 Nov, 11:30 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS

Wed, 11 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus STW

Thu, 12 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MSW versus BHW

Thu, 12 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus SSW

Fri, 13 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Sat, 14 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus BHW

Sat, 14 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus ASW

Sun, 15 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus MRW

Sun, 15 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Mon, 16 Nov, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM

Mon, 16 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS

Mon, 16 Nov, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus WAU

Mon, 16 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW

Tue, 17 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus SSW

Wed, 18 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Thu, 19 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus PSW

Thu, 19 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus STW

Fri, 20 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MRW

Sat, 21 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, HHW versus STW

Sat, 21 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus PSW

Sat, 21 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Sun, 22 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus QUE

Sun, 22 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW

Sun, 22 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus MRW

Mon, 23 Nov, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus TAS

Tue, 24 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus VIC

Tue, 24 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Wed, 25 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus BHW

Thu, 26 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus ASW

Thu, 26 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW

Fri, 27 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Fri, 27 Nov, 9:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus HHW

Sat, 28 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus MSW

Sat, 28 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus SSW

Sun, 29 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, BHW versus PSW

Sun, 29 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW

Sun, 29 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Tue, 1 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus

Wed, 2 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG

Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus WAU

Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus QUE

Thu, 3 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus TAS

Thu, 3 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus

Sat, 5 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus

Wed, 9 Dec, 1:20 pm, Game not started, AUS versus NZL

Sat, 12 Dec, 8:10 pm, Game not started, MER versus PER

Mon, 14 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW

Tue, 15 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW

Tue, 15 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW

Tue, 15 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, BRI versus SYS

Wed, 16 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW

Wed, 16 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus ADE

Thu, 17 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW

Thu, 17 Dec, 11:30 am, Game not started, AUS versus NZL

Thu, 17 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, HOB versus BRI

Fri, 18 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW

Fri, 18 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus ADE

Sat, 19 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW

Sat, 19 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus SYS

Sun, 20 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW

Sun, 20 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus HOB

Mon, 21 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW

Mon, 21 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus BRI

Tue, 22 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYS versus MER

Bavuma couldn't watch the dramatic catch that dismissed Smith, while Boland found the middle of the bat with regularity on day five. ( Getty Images )

Temba Bavuma turns his back as Steve Smith throws his wicket away, while nightwatchman Scott Boland shows the batters how it's done as the Aussies go down in Gqeberha.

Here are the quick hits from the final day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa.

Travis Head began day five needing 13 runs for a gritty, fighting century.

And after a two-hour rain delay, the punchy southpaw reached three figures with relative ease, bringing up the milestone with two leg-side boundaries against South African destroyer Marco Jansen in the sixth over of the day.

Travis Head scored his 13th Test century. ( AP Photo: Themba Hadebe )

His celebrations were understandably muted given the state of the game, with his helmet staying in place as he raised his bat and a grin not even threatening to peek through his grill.

It was just Head's second overseas ton after his effort in the 2023 World Test Championship final at the Oval against India, and first against a team on its home patch.

But Head was unable to set up for the long haul his team so craved, with the Australian departing just after the first drinks break, chopping on while attempting a cut shot that was never there.

Head was out for 121 and Australia was 5-209.

By now, Australian cricket fans should know better than to doubt Scott Boland.

But even the most optimistic of those watching back home surely wouldn't have expected the nightwatchman to outlast both Head and Steve Smith, take his innings deep into the day and soak up a staggering 166 deliveries.

Boland found the middle of the bat more often than not during his heroic vigil. ( Getty Images: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images )

There were a couple of streaky moments, sure, but Boland made his luck more than he rode it, defending with the kind of authority and simplicity his more celebrated batting teammates were so desperately lacking throughout the Test.

He even played a few memorable shots, including an immaculate straight drive back past South Africa spearhead Kagiso Rabada.

But finally, in the second over after tea, Boland's marathon vigil was over, with Wiaan Mulder producing a jagging peach to have the brave nightwatchman bowled through the gate for a new Test best of 40.

It was the moment — and didn't Temba Bavuma know it.

The South Africa captain just couldn't watch as Steve Smith top-edged a Kagiso Rabada bouncer high into the blue Gqeberha sky, turning his back completely as Matthew Breetzke raced back and settled under the ball.

Bavuma couldn't watch as Breetzke took a dramatic juggling catch. ( Fox Cricket )

It was a rash, ugly shot from Smith, and certainly not one befitting of a man tasked with saving a Test match.

But for a moment, it looked like he was going to get away with it.

Having just-about settled underneath the ball, Breetzke juggled once and then twice before securing the wicket that was destined to end the Australian resistance.

Smith, perhaps still struggling with his neck issue from day four, was out for 3 and Australia was 6-255.

With four wickets still in reserve, Australia reached tea still with a sniff of pulling off one of the great escapes.

But in removing Australia's best two batters, the Proteas had already done the hard part, and there would have been no panic as they readied themselves for the game's final stanza.

And in the opening exchanges of what was being sold as a marathon, 44-over evening session, all-rounder Mulder struck not once, but twice.

First, he ended Boland with that divine off-cutter; then he produced something similarly inspired to send the newly-arrived Pat Cummins packing for 4.

At 8-262, it was all beginning to unravel.

There was only one thing that could save the Aussies now ...

All of a sudden, things were beginning to darken in Gqeberha.

With ominous clouds gathering on the outskirts of the oval and ground staff poised to pounce at the boundary rope, the South Africans were in a race with the elements.

Clouds were gathering ominously with the Proteas in search of their final two wickets. ( Fox Cricket )

Well aware of the descending gloom, Bavuma threw the ball to his premier spearhead.

And Rabada delivered in the first over of his spell, bowling Mitchell Starc with the tailender attempting an ugly and wholly unnecessary slog.

But with the skies continuing to intimidate, we were treated to surely one of the most farcical drinks breaks in Test history.

Those five lost minutes, however, were not enough to save the Australians.

The heavens never did open, and number 11 Josh Hazlewood was promptly caught behind the wicket, confirming a chastening innings and 31-run defeat for Australia and a richly deserved series-levelling triumph for the South Africans.

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