Marco Jansen picked up five wickets as Australia collapsed for 99 on Day 4, giving South Africa a strong chance of winning the Test. After declaring at 428/9, South Africa bowled Australia out in just 38.3 overs.
Australia were forced to follow on and finished the day at 156/4. Travis Head remained unbeaten on 87, while Marnus Labuschagne scored a valuable 40 before getting out. Australia still trail by 170 runs heading into the final day.
Marco Jansen Leads Australia’s Collapse
Jansen struck with the first ball of the morning, dismissing Scott Boland. He then removed Head before Simon Harmer took a brilliant one-handed catch at gully to send Labuschagne back. Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw managed to hold on for a while. However, Jansen struck twice in one over, dismissing Renshaw and Alex Carey to leave Australia in trouble.
The wickets continued to fall after lunch. Jansen dismissed Beau Webster to complete his five-wicket haul, while Wiaan Mulder removed Smith. Jansen then picked up Pat Cummins to end Australia’s innings at 99. South Africa enforced the follow-on, and Kagiso Rabada struck early by dismissing Nic Maddinson.
11 overs • 2 maidens • 33 runs
BOWLING MAP · LINE, LENGTH & WICKET ZONE
MATCH IMPACT 11-2-33-5 · ECO 3.00
Travis Head And Marnus Labuschagne Fight Back
Australia showed more resistance in their second innings. Head and Labuschagne put together a 92-run partnership, batting for nearly 30 overs to give their side some hope.
Labuschagne survived a close LBW review but lost his wicket when he charged down the track against Harmer and mistimed his shot. Jansen ran backwards to complete the catch and end the partnership.
Rabada then dismissed Renshaw with a delivery from around the wicket. Harmer trapped Webster leg before wicket, leaving Australia with another difficult challenge. Head continued to score runs despite losing partners at the other end. He reached his half-century and remained unbeaten on 87 off 138 balls at stumps.
9 fours • 0 sixes • vs All Bowlers
SPIKE GRAPH · WAGON ZONE
PRODUCTIVE SHOT
Cover Drive
19 runs
All
1s · 45
2s · 3
3s · 0
4s · 9
6s · 0
BATTER IMPACT 87 runs · 138 balls · 9 fours · 0 sixes
Australia Face Tough Task On Day 5
Australia will resume on 156/4 on the final day, still 170 runs behind South Africa. Head will be key to their chances of avoiding defeat, but he needs support from the remaining batters. South Africa need six more wickets to secure the win and level the series. After their strong performance with both bat and ball, they will look to finish the job on Day 5.
Biggest First-Innings Leads for South Africa vs Australia
326 runs
Gqeberha 2026 This Innings*
267 runs
Johannesburg2018
Best Bowling Figures for South Africa vs Australia in a Test Innings at Gqeberha
5/33
Marco Jansen 2026 This Innings*
Best Bowling Average at Home in Tests (Min. 200 Wickets)
19.56
Muttiah Muralitharan · Sri Lanka493 wickets
20.04
Fred Trueman · England229 wickets
20.04
Kagiso Rabada · South Africa 200 wickets Current*
20.95
Ravindra Jadeja · India256 wickets
21.08
Shaun Pollock · South Africa235 wickets
Best Bowling Figures for Marco Jansen in a Test Innings
7/13
vs Sri LankaDurban · 2024
6/48
vs IndiaGuwahati · 2025
6/52
vs PakistanCenturion · 2024
5/33
vs Australia Gqeberha · 2026 This Innings*
5/35
vs EnglandThe Oval · 2022
Lowest Innings Total Against South Africa in Tests at Gqeberha
99/10
Australia 2026 This Innings*
Lowest Innings Total for Australia vs South Africa in South Africa in Tests
99/10
Gqeberha 2026 This Innings*
Lowest Innings Total for Australia vs South Africa in Tests
99/10
Gqeberha 2026 This Innings*
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