Rain wiped out most of the opening day of the second Test between South Africa and Australia at St George's Park in Gqeberha, but what little play there was belonged to Scott Boland, who dismissed Aiden Markram and David Bedingham in consecutive deliveries to leave the hosts on 20 for 2 from just 12.2 overs when officials abandoned the day. Australia, chasing a series-clinching win after their 214-run victory in the first Test at Durban, go into the match 1-0 up in the three-Test series.
Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl under heavy skies on a green St George's Park surface, bringing Boland in for Nathan Lyon as Australia's only change from the Durban XI. Boland made the decision pay almost immediately, having Markram, who had been South Africa's most consistent batter in the first Test, nick behind for 11 off an inside edge onto his stumps, then removing Bedingham for a first-ball duck two deliveries later, with Alex Carey taking the catch behind the stumps. The double strike left Boland one wicket away from a hat-trick before the rain returned and ended the day.
Persistent rain meant only 12.2 overs were possible across the day, with a delay of nearly two hours before lunch followed by a complete washout in the afternoon session. Temba Bavuma and Marques Ackerman were the unbeaten pair at the close, on 4 and 5 respectively, left to rebuild on a pitch that is likely to offer Australia's seam attack plenty on another damp morning.
Kagiso Rabada was the headline inclusion for the hosts, returning to the XI after recovering from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Durban Test. South Africa also went with Simon Harmer's off-spin ahead of Keshav Maharaj in making three changes from the first match, as the hosts look to respond to a heavy defeat that leaves them needing to win both remaining Tests to avoid losing the series.
With Australia 1-0 up and both results counting toward the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, time lost to rain works against South Africa's chances of forcing a result that keeps the series alive. A shortened Test narrows the hosts' margin for building a competitive total, and Boland's early intervention means Bavuma and the middle order will resume on day two already under pressure, with Rabada and the rest of the bowling attack yet to get a look at the Australian top order.
Play resumes on day two with South Africa 20 for 2, needing substantial partnerships to post a first-innings total of note. The series then moves to Newlands for the third and final Test from October 27.
Live scores and ball-by-ball updates from Gqeberha are available on SportGod's live matches page, with data-backed match forecasts on SportGod's predictions page.
Scores and figures in this article are verified against same-day and freshly re-checked reporting as of October 19, 2026.
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