South Africa are six wickets away from a huge victory against Australia in the second Test. However, Australia are fighting hard to save the match on the last day at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday, October 22.
Australia had a difficult fourth day when they lost their first innings by 99 runs. South Africa imposed the follow-on and put the visitors under more pressure. At stumps on Day 4, Australia was 156/4 in their second innings, still behind South Africa by 170 runs.
With only one day left, the big question is whether Australia will make it through the final day or South Africa will eventually win or South Africa will make a remarkable comeback.
South Africa Need Six Wickets to Victory
South Africa got a strong comeback after losing the first Test. Their batters and bowlers have put the team in a winning position in the second match.
South Africa scored 425/9 before declaring their first innings. Temba Bavuma led from the front with 179 runs. Marco Jansen also made 85 runs and Simon Harmer scored 82.
Their work helped South Africa build a strong total and put pressure on Australia.
Australia struggled in reply and were dismissed for just 99 runs. Marco Jansen was the star with the ball, taking five wickets for 33 runs. Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder also played a huge part in the collapse.
South Africa took a huge first-innings lead of 326 runs and asked Australia to bat again.
Travis Head Gives Australia Hope.
Australia needs a special effort to save the match. Travis Head is their biggest hope after remaining unbeaten on 87 at day four.
Head has shown that Australia can still come back and fight back, but he needs support from the batters at the other end. With six wickets left, Australia needs to build partnerships and not take unnecessary risks.
The visitors cannot afford another batting collapse. Every session will be important, and they will need patience and concentration to keep South Africa away from victory.
Steve Smith's health is also in question after he suffered neck problems in the match. It would be helpful for Australia if he was available and able to bat.
Can Australia Pull Off a Miracle?
Australia will have a challenging task to overcome on the last day. They need to cut down the 170-run deficit and protect their remaining wickets against a confident South African bowling attack.
South Africa will also look to take early wickets and finish the match as soon as possible. Jansen, Rabada, and the other bowlers will be eager to keep the pressure on.
A draw is possible if Australia bats all day, but South Africa have the advantage because they only need six more wickets. The final day could decide whether the hosts level the series or Australia manage to draw.
Where and how to watch South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test
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Match: South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 5
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Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
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Venue: St George’s Park, Gqeberha, South Africa
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Start time in India: 1:00 PM IST
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Live streaming in India: FanCode
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Live TV in India: Eurosport
Australia will need determination and a disciplined batting display on the final day to survive. South Africa are in a strong position at present, but the game will depend on how well Australia will respond.
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