Overview
- Australia finished day two 330 for 4, one run ahead of South Africa's 329 and with six wickets in hand, leaving the tourists well positioned to press for a first-innings lead and a series win.
- Key contributions came from Matt Renshaw (74), Josh Inglis (85 not out), Alex Carey (51 not out) and Cameron Green (65), who together rebuilt the innings after two quick wickets.
- South Africa squandered a dominant position by collapsing from 158 without loss to 329 all out on day one, losing 10 wickets for 131 runs and turning control of the match.
- Kagiso Rabada struggled for movement and finished wicketless and expensive while dealing with illness, and Simon Harmer provided the Proteas' main breakthroughs by dismissing Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
- Steve Smith withdrew before the toss with a neck issue and was replaced by Josh Inglis, and this match outcome could reshape selection debates and the teams' World Test Championship standing after two split results earlier in the series.