![Temba Bavuma [Source: AP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792498955397_Temba_Bavuma.jpg?type=hq)
Temba Bavuma [Source: AP]
Temba Bavuma is holding the South Africa innings together from falling apart against Australia in the second Test of their three-match series. Batting at number three, the Proteas skipper punched out a majestic century, doing so on Day 3 of the match at the St George's Park in Gqeberha.
His innings motored South Africa towards the 300-run mark after resuming their first innings on Day 3 at 97-5. Notably, the 36-year-old also scripted a huge batting record through the course of his courageous knock.
Temba Bavuma enters Gqeberha archives with record century
Temba Bavuma brought up his century from 226 balls with a boundary off his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins in the 90th over of the first South Africa innings on Day 3 of the second Test.
The innings not only marked Bavuma’s fifth Test century, but the cricketer also became the first South Africa captain in history to score a Test ton at the St George's Park in Gqeberha. He surpassed the previous highest score by a Proteas skipper at the venue set by Kepler Wessels back in 1992 with his 95-run effort against India.
Moreover, the senior South Africa batter also became only the third captain overall to score a Test century at Gqeberha’s St George's Park, joining an elite list featuring an English and an Australian batter. Here is a look at all captains who have previously scored a century in Gqeberha in Test cricket.
Captains to Score a Century in Gqeberha in Tests:
- 167 - Lindsay Hassett (Australia) vs South Africa, 1950
- 136* - George Mann (England) vs South Africa, 1949
- 104* - Temba Bavuma (South Africa) vs Australia, 2026, This Innings*
Temba Bavuma also climbed higher on the all-time WTC charts for South Africa. Recording his fifth Test century with his regal ton against Australia, the cricketer has now notched up four of those hundreds for the Proteas in WTC fixtures.
He has now levelled up with Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne in terms of notching up the highest number of centuries by any South African player in WTC matches.
Most 100s for South Africa in WTC:
- 4 - Aiden Markram
- 4 - Kyle Verreynne
- 4 - Temba Bavuma*
- 3 - Dean Elgar
Bavuma responds to Travis Head’s trolling in style
With his latest batting masterclass for South Africa, skipper Temba Bavuma also appears to have responded to Travis Head’s recent social media trolling in emphatic fashion.
Not long ago, Head posted an Instagram story mocking Bavuma, doing so after Australia crushed South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the series. His century at Gqeberha therefore served as a timely on-field riposte, putting South Africa’s captain firmly back in the spotlight after Travis Head’s social media jibe.
