Graeme Smith's cool 75 set up South Africa's first series win in Australia as they eased to a nine-wicket victory that destroyed the hosts' world-beating reputation. Rain was the home side's only chance on the fifth day and while there was some in the morning, play began on time, Smith quickly attacked the wilting bowling attack, and the success was sealed after lunch when Hashim Amla flicked Michael Clarke for two behind square leg.
While the visitors celebrated a superb 2-0 advantage following stunning comebacks in Perth and Melbourne, Ricky Ponting's players were glum after giving up their fortress. Australia's last series defeat at home was in 1992-93 and if they succumb again in Sydney from Saturday it will be Smith's team that is officially No 1. While Ponting's men cling to the top rating, the best they can hope for in the unofficial rankings is third following their performances over the past three months.
Smith came to Australia with a calm confidence and his strength and drive have been immense. In the first Test his 108 put South Africa on track for an incredible chase of 414 and in Melbourne his half-century ensured there would be no costly slips. Late cuts were Smith's main method and he picked up ten boundaries in his 94-ball contribution to a settling opening stand of 121.
Ponting showed his inflexibility on the fifth morning by ignoring Mitchell Johnson, Australia's best bowler by the size of the MCG, in favour of the injured Brett Lee and the novice Peter Siddle.
Only Ponting's use of Hauritz worked as the home side slumped towards demoralising back-to-back defeats. There was nothing Australia could do either side of lunch and Matthew Hayden's poor match continued when he spilt McKenzie on 49 when he edged to first slip.
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SCOREBOARD
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Australia 2nd innings
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ML Hayden c Duminy b Steyn 23
SM Katich c Boucher b Steyn 15
RT Ponting c Smith b Morkel 99
MEK Hussey c Amla b Morkel 2
MJ Clarke c McKenzie b Steyn 29
A Symonds c Kallis b Steyn 0
BJ Haddin c Kallis b Ntini 10
B Lee b Kallis 8
MG Johnson not out 43
NM Hauritz b Kallis 3
PM Siddle c Boucher b Steyn 6
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Extras: (b 1, lb 3, nb 5) 9
Total: (all out; 84.2 overs) 247
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Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-40, 3-49, 4-145, 5-145, 6-165, 7-180, 8-212, 9-231, 10-247
Bowling: (O M R W Econ): DW Steyn 20.2 3 67 5 3.29 (1nb), M Ntini 14 1 26 1 1.85, M Morkel 15 2 46 2 3.06 (4nb), PL Harris 21 1 47 0 2.23, JH Kallis 14 1 57 2 4.07
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South Africa 1st innings
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G Smith c Haddin b Siddle 62
N McKenzie b Siddle 0
H Amla c Symonds b Johnson 19
J Kallis c Haddin b Hauritz 26
A de Villiers b Siddle 7
J Duminy c Siddle b Hauritz 166
M Boucher c Hussey b Hauritz 3
M Morkel b Johnson 21
P Harris c Johnson b Hussey 39
D Steyn b Siddle 76
M Ntini not out 2
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Extras: (b 5, lb 13, nb 15, pen 5) 38
Total: (all out; 153 overs) 459
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Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-39, 3-102, 4-126, 5-132, 6-141, 7-184, 8-251, 9-431, 10-459
Bowling (O M R W Econ): B Lee 13 2 68 0 5.23 (7nb), P Siddle 34 9 81 4 2.38 (4nb), G Johnson 39 6 127 2 3.25 (3nb), N Hauritz 43 13 98 3 2.27 (1nb), M Clarke 8 0 26 0 3.25, M Hussey 5 0 22 1 4.40, A Symonds 11 3 14 0 1.27.
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Australia 1st innings:
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M Hayden c Duminy b Ntini 8
S Katich b Steyn 54
R Ponting c Amla b Harris 101
M Hussey c Boucher b Steyn 0
M Clarke not out 88
A Symonds c Kallis b Morkel 27
B Haddin c Smith b Ntini 40
B Lee c Kallis b Steyn 21
M Johnson b Steyn 0
N Hauritz c Smith b Steyn 12
P Siddle c de Villiers b Kallis 19
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Extras: (b 5, lb 12, nb 7) 24
Total: (all out; 113.4 overs) 394
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Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-128, 3-143, 4-184, 5-223, 6-277, 7-322, 8-326, 9-352, 10-394
Bowling (O M R W Econ): D Steyn 29 6 87 5 3.00, M Ntini 27 7 108 2 4.00 (1nb), J Kallis 18.4 4 55 1 2.94, M Morkel 22 3 89 1 4.04 (6nb), P Harris 17 3 38 1 2.23
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South Africa 2nd innings
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GC Smith lbw b Hauritz 75
ND McKenzie not out 59
HM Amla not out 30
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Extras: (lb 9, w 2, nb 8) 19
Total: (1 wkt; 48 overs; 204 mins) 183
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Did not bat: JH Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, DW Steyn, wicketkeeperMV Boucher, M Ntini, M Morkel, PL Harris
Fall of wickets: 1-121
Bowling (O M R W Econ): B Lee 10 0 49 0 4.90 (6nb), PM Siddle 14 5 34 0 2.42, MG Johnson 11 1 36 0 3.27 (1nb, 2w), NM Hauritz 10 0 41 1 4.10 (1nb), MJ Clarke 3 0 14 0 4.66
Toss: Australia, who chose to bat first
Series: SA led the 3-match series 2-0
Player of the match: DW Steyn (South Africa)
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and BR Doctrove (West Indies)
TV umpire: BNJ Oxenford.
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