Rabada, Mulder and a rogue rainstorm seal South Africa’s innings‑and‑31 triumph, forcing a series decider with Australia

The sky over Gqeberha opened its own tactical playbook on day five, drizzling just enough to keep the Australian bowlers guessing and the South African batsmen smug. It was the kind of weather that makes you wonder whether the clouds were paid consultants for the home side.

Enter Rabada, who, instead of just ripping the ball, seemed to be negotiating with the heavens, coaxing each delivery like a bartender flirting with a stubborn patron. Mulder, meanwhile, strutted to the crease as if he’d just walked onto a runway, his bat a microphone delivering a solo that left the opposition’s fielding coach speechless.

The hosts piled on the runs with the precision of a well‑timed Instagram meme, eventually sealing the match by an innings and 31 runs – a margin that sounds like a secret code for “we’re not done yet”. The scoreboard blinked, the crowd roared, and somewhere a meteorologist sighed in relief.

Australia, left to lick their bruised egos, now face a series decider that will be decided not just by skill but by the fickle whims of the same sky that helped their opponents. Rumour has it the Aussie camp is already drafting a petition to ban rain on future tours.

In the post‑match press room, the South African coaching staff thanked the “excellent atmospheric conditions” and promised to send a thank‑you card to the local weather bureau. The Australian side, by contrast, was seen Googling “how to bowl in a monsoon”.

The innings‑and‑31 victory also gave the hosts a morale boost that could power a small city for a week. If only they could harness that energy for the power grid, Australia might have a real chance in the next match.

Fans left the stadium clutching umbrellas and souvenir cricket balls, both of which now carry the same level of historic significance. One local vendor even started selling “Rain‑Ready” cricket caps, because you never know when the next over will be interrupted by a drizzle.

As the sun finally set over the Nelson Mandela Bay, the series stood level, and the only certainty was that the next test would be a showdown between two teams, one armed with skill and the other armed with a weather‑watching app.

So buckle up, cricket lovers – the decider will be a battle of bat, ball and possibly a well‑timed thunderclap. The only thing we can guarantee is that South Africa’s Rabada and Mulder have already proven they can make even the clouds work for them.