Australia have secured their first home Test series win against South Africa in 17 years, crushing the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs at the MCG.
Smashed in a record two days in the series-opener at the Gabba, South Africa were even more comprehensively outplayed by Australia in the Boxing Day Test.
South Africa passed 200 for the first time in eight Test innings, making totals of 189 and 204 in Melbourne, but Australia belted 8-575 declared following 200 from veteran opener David Warner and wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s first red-ball century.
Steve Smith took the final wicket of Lungi Ngidi near the end of the second session on day four as the visitors’ second innings ended in the 69th over.
Temba Bavuma (65) top-scored for South Africa but the experienced No.5 was also responsible for two diabolical run-outs on Thursday.
Khaya Zondo lost his wicket for one after Travis Head was quick to hit the stumps, while Bavuma was involved in another mix-up as tailender Keshav Maharaj was caught short of his ground.
South Africa succeeded on their previous three trips to Australia, saluting for the first time at Test level against their fierce rivals under Graeme Smith’s captaincy in 2008-09.
Ricky Ponting was the last Australia captain to win at home against South Africa back in 2005-06.
Australia last won against the Proteas in 2014 when they prevailed 2-1 during a classic series in South Africa.
South Africa claimed the controversial Sandpapergate series 3-1 in 2018, but have failed to top up their batting since the retirements of greats Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis and too much has been left to their fast-bowling group on this tour.
Warner claimed man-of-the-match honours for his brilliant double-century, ending an almost three-year drought without a red-ball ton.
Just the second Australian after Ponting to score a century in their 100th Test, Warner’s innings will go down in folklore after he batted through heat stress and full-body cramps in oppressive conditions on Tuesday.
Star Australia quick Mitchell Starc will almost certainly miss next week’s SCG Test due to a finger injury suffered on day one.
However, a visibly sore Starc bowled 18 overs during South Africa’s second innings for figures of 1-62.
The 32-year-old was involved in a tense exchange with Theunis de Bruyn, who he threatened to Mankad after South Africa’s No.3 stood out of his crease.
“He’s halfway down Punt Rd, wasn’t he? It’s bad enough in white-ball cricket, I don’t know what the need is in red-ball cricket,” Starc told the Seven Network during a drinks break.
