13 wickets and a follow on: Timeline of terror in Gqeberha

On a disastrous fourth day for Australia in the second Test at St George's Park on Wednesday, they were first bowled out for 99, before being asked to follow on and going to stumps at 4-156, still trailing by 170.

It leaves them fighting to avoid defeat in the second Test and a 1-1 scoreline ahead of next week's finale in Cape Town.

Australia's first-innings total of 99 was their fourth-lowest against South Africa, and the team's worst total against any opponent since March 2023. It was also their lowest first-innings score since being skittled for 85 by South Africa in Hobart almost 10 years ago, a capitulation that prompted six changes.

Australia were asked to follow on for the first time since January 2019. It was also just the third time since 1988.

The first-innings deficit of 326 runs is Australia's largest since Trent Bridge at the 2015 Ashes, and the biggest when bowling first since 1984.

Australia's demise came after South Africa recovered from 6-110 to 9-425 declared. That is the most Australia have conceded after having a team six-down since 2008.

Below is the timeline of events - in local time - as a dramatic fourth day unfolded in Gqeberha

09:45: Travis Head square-drives the first ball of the day from Kagiso Rabada for four and it all looks rosy for Australia.

09:51: After Nic Maddinson's duck brought him in as a nightwatchman on night three, Scott Boland wafts at his first ball on Wednesday is caught behind for two.

10:12: Marco Jansen gets Head on the pads with a ball that seams back a long way. It's given not out but overturned on review, and the cracks are showing.

10:33: Simon Harmer takes a one-handed screamer at slips to remove Marnus Labuschagne for 14. Australia are shaky at 3-22.

11:33: Steve Smith edges a ball off Rabada and flings his head around to see it bounce in front of slips. But in doing so he hurts his neck and requires treatment.

11:40: Smith looks a completely different batter after his neck issue. The right-hander struggles through Rabada's next over.

11:47: Matt Renshaw's 48-ball resistance alongside Smith ends when he edges Jansen to Harmer at slip on 12.

11:48: Alex Carey follows two balls later for a duck and it's 6-65.

13:04: Any hope of a revival after lunch is over when Beau Webster edges Jansen to slip.

13:22: Smith receives treatment on his neck again, taking pills for a second time. Then four balls later he is bowled by Wiaan Mulder for 28.

13:27: Mitchell Starc is caught behind off Rabada

13:32: Pat Cummins is the last man dismissed for seven. Australia are all out for 99 and are asked to follow on for just the third time since 1988. Rabada taunts the Aussies by signalling a batting motion with his hands towards their dressing room as he walks off.

13:54: Following on, Maddinson is caught behind off Rabada for eight to start the second innings, and his shock Test recall is surely over.

16:03: Labuschagne is given out lbw after fighting his way to 36, but reviews. Ball-tracking shows the Harmer delivery missing leg stump by 4.7 millimetres and Labuschagne reacts like a batter who knows his career was in the balance.

16:18: After taking Australia to 1-100 alongside Head, Labuschagne attempts to hit Harmer into the wind and is caught halfway to the long-on boundary. He admonishes himself as he walks off, his future now in the hands of the selectors.

16:49: Renshaw is bowled trying to leave Rabada on 11, and any momentum Australia had clawed back is gone again.

17:25: Webster is lbw to Harmer on eight. His spot is now vulnerable, after averaging 13.5 over the past four Tests.

17:47: After starting the day as nightwatchman, Boland ends it as one again. He helps see Head to the close with the opener unbeaten on 87 and Australia 4-156, still trailing by 170 runs.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa squad for second Test: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test onwards), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster