Jansen, Rabada put South Africa in sight of win over Australia

GQEBERHA (South Africa): Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada bowled South Africa to within sight of a series-levelling victory over Australia on the fourth day of the second Test at St George's Park on Wednesday.

The visitors were 156 for four as they followed on for the first time since 2019 after being shot out for 99 earlier in the day.

They were still 170 runs short of making South Africa bat again.

"We knew because of the first two days, with the rain and everything, we were going to have to bowl them out as quickly as possible in either the first or second innings," Jansen said.

"I'm just happy we could capitalise on the wicket and the new ball.

"The guys bowled really well. But it's one thing to bowl a certain way but it's another to be backed up by your fielders as well."

Travis Head survived an early chance and was unbeaten on 87.

Steve Smith did not come out to bat in the second innings after appearing to be struggling with a neck injury while battling to the top score of 28 in Australia's first innings.

Smith was seen later in the players' area wearing a neck brace.

"Travis (Head) is still there and we know he can hit a hundred off 50 balls," added Jansen.

"We know there is a possibility we will have to bat again but we're going to put all our focus and effort on making sure that doesn't happen."

Jansen took five for 33 as the away side crashed to their fourth-lowest total against South Africa and Rabada made two crucial breakthroughs in the second innings.

All-rounder Jansen had also scored a crucial 85 as the Proteas recovered from 110-6 to 425-9 declared on the third day of the rain-hit game, when captain Temba Bavuma made a career-best 179.

- Maddinson falls cheaply again -

"It's only a week ago we were a really good team," Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said after his side claimed a 214-run victory in the first Test.

"I'm not going to hang anyone out to dry."

However, McDonald said Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, who missed the first two Tests, would both be available for selection for the third Test in Cape Town.

Rabada dismissed the tourists' opening batsman Nic Maddinson cheaply for the second time in the match and later bowled Matt Renshaw, who was man of the match in Australia's first Test win.

With a first-innings lead of 326 runs, South Africa enforced the follow-on despite fast bowler Anrich Nortje being out of action with a groin injury.

Nortje dismissed Marnus Labuschagne in the first innings but bowled only 3.3 overs before pulling up injured.

In Nortje's absence, Bavuma used Rabada, Jansen and fellow seamer Wiaan Mulder in short spells and made extensive use of off-spinner Simon Harmer, who bowled 18 overs and took two wickets.

Harmer broke a 92-run second wicket stand between Head and Labuschagne when the latter went for a big hit and was caught by Jansen running back from mid-on as the ball was held up in a stiff breeze.

Tall left-armer Jansen was superb in the first innings. He struck with his first ball of the match when he had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind in the second over of the day.

He followed up with the wickets of Head, Renshaw, Alex Carey and Beau Webster as Australia collapsed. - AFP