South Africa captain Temba Bavuma notched a new personal best with a 175-run innings against Australia, helping the hosts recover well from their precarious position and post a big total on Day 3 of the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

Temba Bavuma's 179 is the fourth-highest individual score by a South African captain in a home Test, with the previous bests being Hashim Amla's 208 against West Indies in Centurion in 2014, Amla's 201 against England in Cape Town in 2016, and Graeme Smith's 183 against England in Cape Town in 2010.

Bavuma's knock is the second-highest individual Test score at Gqeberha, with Herschelle Gibbs' 196 against India in 2001 the best.

Temba Bavuma leads South Africa's remarkable recovery

Bavuma's innings saw South Africa rally from 110/6, with the hosts avoiding the follow-on as the skipper scored a vital century, helping his team to 425/9 declared at the end of day two.

The hosts made one of the best Test comebacks as Bavuma batted through 334 balls, hitting 18 fours and a six before he was eventually run out by Mitchell Starc.

South Africa made a stunning reply after being placed in dangerous circumstances, as their total was the second-highest by a team that has been batting after being reduced to 110 or fewer in the sixth over of an innings.

England have posted the highest figures for a similar position, as they were at 102/7 and later declared 446 against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010.

Temba Bavuma walked to the crease with South Africa at 12/2 on the opening morning, and then guided his team through the rain-hit and slippery afternoon session on day two. He was at the center of the batting order again the next day, as South Africa were at 92/5. His resilience saw the lower order respond in kind as the hosts took control of the match.

Marco Jansen laid the foundation for the hosts' recovery as he and Bavuma posted a vital 132-run stand for the seventh wicket. Jansen remained not out on 85 before he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Scott Boland to give the visitors their only five-wicket haul of the match, with Boland finishing with figures of 5/81.

Harmer and Bavuma then added 183 runs for the eighth wicket, with the former scoring a well-deserved 82. He hit his first-ever Test fifty in the process, playing a crucial knock as South Africa took control of the match.

Bavuma crossed the century mark for the fifth time in his Test career, and his 226 balls faced completed his second consecutive innings of over 150 runs.

He equaled his personal best which was also 172, which he scored earlier this year against West Indies in Johannesburg. The South Africa skipper was eventually run out by Starc, as the hosts declared their innings closed on 425/9.

Australia were left reeling at 3/1 as Nic Maddinson was brilliantly caught and bowled by Kagiso Rabada for a four-ball duck. The visitors were placed in a challenging position at the end of the day's play, as they were 3/1 at stumps.

Australia have already won the first Test in Durban by a commanding 214 runs, and with the tie-breaker advantage, they lead the three-match series 1-0. South Africa, as the defending World Test champions, will be looking to turn things around in the second Test and push themselves towards the final in 2027.