SA vs AUS, 2nd Test — Day 4 Stumps: Australia 156/4 (f/o), Trail by 170 After Marco Jansen's 5-33 Bowls Them Out for 99

Some days in Test cricket move slowly enough that you can watch the match turn. Day 4 at St George's Park was not one of them. Thirteen wickets fell, Australia were bowled out for 99, and by the evening they were batting again, 326 behind, trying to save a Test they had controlled two days earlier.

ESPNcricinfo noted that it was only the third time since 1988 that South Africa have enforced the follow-on against Australia, and the first time in 69 innings that Australia had been bowled out for under 100, since they made 91 against India in Nagpur in 2023.

Marco Jansen struck with his first ball of the day. It was on a hard length and nipped away, and nightwatcher Scott Boland edged it to Ryan Rickelton. Jansen then hit Travis Head on the front pad with one that came back in, and South Africa reviewed the not-out call. Replays showed it hitting middle stump. Australia were 22 for 3.

Marnus Labuschagne drove Jansen well for a while, but he fell to Anrich Nortje, edging a drive to Simon Harmer, who took a sharp one-handed catch at gully. Nortje then left the field during his fourth over with what ESPNcricinfo described as a suspected groin injury. Australia were 48 for 4 at drinks.

Steven Smith and Matt Renshaw held on until the 30th over. Then Renshaw steered Jansen to Harmer at third slip, and two balls later Alex Carey edged Jansen to Rickelton. Australia went to lunch on 69 for 6.

Beau Webster overturned a caught-behind decision on review, but Jansen had him two overs later, caught by Aiden Markram at second slip off extra bounce. That was Jansen's fifth wicket. Smith reached 11,000 Test runs during his 28, becoming the 12th batter and the third Australian, after Ricky Ponting and Allan Border, to get there. He needed treatment on his neck more than once, and Wiaan Mulder bowled him with one that came back in. Rabada had Mitchell Starc caught behind for his 200th Test wicket at home, and Mulder finished the innings when Pat Cummins was caught by Matthew Breetzke. Australia were all out for 99 in 42.3 overs, and Bavuma sent them back in.

Rabada removed Nic Maddinson again, for 8, edging to Rickelton. Head, on a low score, then pushed Mulder to gully, where Jansen could not hold on. That miss could still matter. Head and Labuschagne took Australia to 50 for 1 at tea and put on 92 together, with Head reaching a 50 off 81 balls.

Labuschagne survived an lbw decision on review, but on 39 he charged Harmer and skied it towards mid-on, where Jansen ran back and held a tricky catch in the wind. Rabada bowled Renshaw, who left a ball that seamed back in, and Harmer trapped Webster lbw. Smith, hurt during the first innings, did not come out at his usual No. 4. Boland came out instead, and he and Head saw Australia to 156 for 4.

Jansen made 85 on Day 3 and took 5 for 33 from 11 overs on Day 4. When Nortje went off, South Africa lost their quickest bowler, and Jansen gave them more than enough to cover for it. Rabada was outstanding as well. He has four wickets in the match, including Maddinson in both innings.

Head has 87 not out from 138 balls with nine fours. On Day 2 it was Bavuma holding up one end while wickets fell at the other. Now it is Head's turn, and the match has turned around so completely that the roles have reversed. Australia have Boland with him, Smith carrying a neck problem, and Carey, Cummins and Starc to come.

Our preview picked Matthew Breetzke as South Africa's player to watch. He made 4 with the bat but took the catch that ended Australia's first innings. Our broader lean towards Australia holding the advantage has not survived the last two days.

South Africa need six wickets on the final day to level the series 1-1. Australia need to bat most of the day, and they would have to score 170 more just to make South Africa bat again. Harmer has two wickets and will have a fifth-day pitch to bowl on. Nortje's fitness is an open question. The first hour, and Head, will decide a lot.