SA beat AUS by 6 wickets | Australia vs South Africa, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd Test Match

Two more matches to be played in the series, then. Looking at the fierce battle in the first couple of Tests, we, as viewers and fans, can be ensured of more lip-smacking cricket. The third Test match begins in Cape Town on 22nd of March, 2018 at 1000 local time (0800 GMT). Thank you for being wonderful companions for this one, we look forward to your presence on that one. Meanwhile, you can have a look at the other matches in progress. Till the next time, adios amigos! Ta-ta!

The winning captain, FAF DU PLESSIS, lauds the character of his side for getting this win. States about their plans to bat on for a long time and wear out the Australians. Reckons that the first hour on Day 1 was good for them but then went off the radar. Adds further that to come back from there the way they did is creditable. About AB de Villiers, he asserts that he batted on some other surface before iterating that he is a valuable player. About Vernon Philander, he says that although the guy doesn't have great pace, the lines and lengths he bowls are immaculate and that is vital. He is disappointed about Kagiso Rabada's case and mentions about the disappointing aspect of the best players missing out. Concludes saying they look forward to coming back for the next game after having some rest under their belt.

KAGISO RABADA is adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for the 5th time in his Test career. It is for the 11-wicket haul by him that changed the game. He says that the preparations were good and he is happy for things to have come out well. About the lengths that he bowled in this Test, he states that was an important aspect which he executed well. He jokes to sticking to bowling well, when asked about his innings as a nightwatchman. He mentions about the Australians being aggressive and a quality opponent and nothing comes easy against them. Ends saying that he still has much more in him.

STEVEN SMITH, the losing captain, admits the opposition to playing them out in all aspects of the game. Credits AB de Villiers for South Africa running away with the game. He reckons that they had a fine start in the first innings with the bat but their middle order let them down in testing conditions. Concedes being a 100 runs too short in the end. They were hopeful of bundling out the Proteas quickly yesterday, when they had just 3 wickets left, he reckons. He ends saying that at the halfway point in the series, both the sides are even-stevens and this augurs well for the Cape Town Test.

That proved a mountain of impossibility for the visiting side as they were left on shaky ground much before the deficit was covered. Usman Khawaja then ground his way to a fifty to keep Australia interested, by stringing together a 87-run association with Mitchell Marsh. No other player could play a significant innings for them as Kagiso Rabada was at it yet again. A six-fer in the second essay to give him a 11-wicket haul in the game, meant that the target that got set for South Africa was not a tough one. One cannot say that no sweat was broken, but eventually the hosts crossed the line. Now for us to have a look at how the presentation ensues...

In response, South Africa began cautiously and were crawling along in the game, along with keeping the Australians interested, courtesy a 88-run stand of over 46 overs between Deal Elgar and Hashim Amla. It didn't help the home side's cause much as those two departed in fairly quick succession to put the side in a spot of bother. But AB de Villiers showed us that he had a different surface brought along and thrashed his way to a well compiled 22nd Test ton, crashing any hopes of an Aussie lead with that. His surge meant that the Rainbow nation raced 139 runs away to the front.

Australia haven't won two games in a single series away from home since the ones against New Zealand in 2016. This situation could have well been different had Australia capitalized on the start they had got on the first day after winning the toss and batting first. David Warner and Cameron Bancroft strung together a 98-run stand to keep the hosts at bay. But that breakthrough was enough for Kagiso Rabada to run through the line up. His fiery spell culminated in a Test fifer, that pretty much took the opposition by surprise, as much as it delighted us viewers.

A 6-wicket series leveling victory for the hosts! Once they had a modest total to chase, the end result was hardly a doubt. However, not everything was hunky-dory coming towards the end. Australia suddenly found something from the surface and their spell to Hashim Amla when he was new to the crease was a treat. After Aiden Markram's wicket, in walked the man-from-a-different planet named AB de Villiers. He quickly took the attack to the opposition to ease pressure on his side. But again, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins sent him and Amla back quickly to instill some fear. That scare was survived and the Proteas eventually ended on the right side of the result.

Pat Cummins to Theunis de Bruyn. FOUR! Sealed in style! Hurled fuller outside off, de Bruyn gets a stride out and times the push through covers nicely. The ball has enough on it to trickle away to the fence to seal a SOUTH AFRICAN VICTORY! 1-1 stands the series with 2 more Tests to be played.

Pat Cummins to Theunis de Bruyn. Another short ball, Theunis crouches low and lets it pass.

Pat Cummins to Faf du Plessis. Angling in on a length, Faf works it away towards fine leg for a single. Australia have just 3 more runs to play with.

Pat Cummins to Faf du Plessis. This length ball is defended off the back foot.

Pat Cummins to Faf du Plessis. Banged short on the stumps, du Plessis ducks to let it go.

Nathan Lyon to Theunis de Bruyn. FOUR! Well played. Shortish a touch, Theunis de Bruyn goes on the back foot and punches it through covers for a boundary. The home side is just one hit away from a win.

Nathan Lyon to Theunis de Bruyn. This one is worked away to the on side off the pads.

Nathan Lyon to Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis sweeps this through square leg, all along the ground. One run taken.

Nathan Lyon to Theunis de Bruyn. Risky stroke but why? De Bruyn gets down on a knee and swings across the line. Hits it aerially towards deep square leg for a single. What is the need to play such shots?

Nathan Lyon to Theunis de Bruyn. Nicely played. Tossed up on off, Theunis just pushes it through covers and gets a couple. Just 10 more needed now.

Nathan Lyon to Theunis de Bruyn. Lyon continues round the wicket and delivers it on the stumps. De Bruyn blocks.

Pat Cummins to Faf du Plessis. This ball is pushed towards mid off for nothing.

Pat Cummins to Theunis de Bruyn. Speared on a fuller length on middle and leg, de Bruyn flicks it off his pads and gets to the other end.