Watch: Travis Head smashes superb century in Gqeberha as Australia fight to save SA vs AUS 2nd Test

There was so much talk of how Travis Head hasn’t been able to stand in away Tests, as the pressure was high on the southpaw while opening the batting during the second innings, being asked to follow on during the second Test of the three-match series against South Africa at the St George’s Park in Gqeberha. 

Having been bundled out for just 99 runs in the first innings, where Head was dismissed for 14 runs, the need of the hour for the visitors was to put in a strong performance in the second innings and draw the contest to keep their 1-0 lead intact, heading into next week’s Cape Town Test match.

Travis Head reaches a fighting century at St George’s Park

Head took his time at the start of the innings before being put down in the gully region to open his boundary account. But he didn’t look back from that position and continued to cream the Protea bowlers around the park. When Simon Harmer came into the attack, Head was equal on the task.  

Watch Travis Head's century here- 

The southpaw celebrated his half-century with a single on the fourth day’s play. Early on the fifth day, the left-handed batter whipped Marco Jansen off the pads to the deep backward square leg for a boundary before flicking him through mid-wicket for another four and celebrating his century.

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This was Head’s only second away century in WTC history, with the first one coming against India in the WTC 2023 final at the Kennington Oval in South London. This was also the first by an Australian batter against the Proteas in the third or fourth innings of a Test since David Warner’s 145 in 2014.

How Australia are trying to draw the 2nd Test after following on

South Africa declared on 425 runs for the loss of nine wickets on Day 3 as their captain, Temba Bavuma, smashed 179 runs with the help of 18 boundaries and one six while he got full support from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer, who collected 85 and 82 runs, respectively.

Australia were blown away for 99 in the first innings as Jansen returned with firing figures of 5/33 in 11 overs. They were under pressure in the second innings at 150/4 before Head and Scott Boland stabled them with a 50+ run partnership.

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Brief Scores: Australia 202/4 (Travis Head 114*, Simon Harmer 2/53) & 99 (Steve Smith 28, Marco Jansen 5/33) trail South Africa 425/9 dec (Temba Bavuma 179, Scott Boland 5/81) by 124 runs.