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Historic win for South Africa

First home defeat for Australia since 1992-93

— FILE PHOTO

LEADING FROM THE FRONT: Graeme Smith’s secure and attacking innings ensured that South Africa had no nervous moments before closing out the match and the series.

MELBOURNE: South Africa completed a historic nine-wicket win on the final day of the Boxing Day Test here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, handing Australia its first series defeat at home since 1992-93.

Captain Graeme Smith, who has been in exceptional form in 2008, made a secure, attacking 75, putting on 121 for the first wicket with Neil McKenzie (59 n.o.) to settle the nerves in the fourth-innings pursuit of 183.

Hashim Amla struck the winning runs after lunch to secure the series 2-0 — South Africa’s first in Australia.

South Africa thus capped a remarkable year of Test cricket, a period during which it recorded 11 wins — a feat that has only been achieved twice previously, by West Indies in 1984, and by England in 2004. Australia’s best is 10, achieved in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

“I’ve been smiling since the winning runs,” said Smith. “It’s incredible. It’s been a team effort and when it’s come to key moment in this Test we’ve stepped up.

“JP (Duminy) was incredible and the self belief in the team is flowing. It’s an honour to come here and beat a quality unit. We’re going to celebrate and enjoy our New Years and not many of us are thinking about Sydney (the venue for the third Test).

“After all the hard work these years it’s incredible to be standing here,” he added.

Ricky Ponting, who did his utmost to stop South Africa with scores of 101 and 99, was gracious in defeat.

“Full marks to South Africa,” he said. “They won very comfortably, a well deserved series win. Things were looking good for us at one stage, but their tail played exceptionally well and (Brett) Lee went down through injury. We weren’t able to convert our opportunities.”

Dale Steyn was adjudged the Man of the Match for his 10-wicket haul and his role in the reviving partnership with Duminy on the third day. South Africa — which hasn’t lost a Test series in more than two years, winning nine series and drawing one in this period — can claim the top ranking from Australia if it sweeps the series 3-0 with victory in the final Test at Sydney.

SCOREBOARD

Australia — 1st innings: 394.

South Africa — 1st innings: 459.

Australia — 2nd innings: 247.

South Africa — 2nd innings: G. Smith lbw b Hauritz 75, N. McKenzie (not out) 59, H. Amla (not out) 30, Extras (lb-9, nb-8, w-2): 19; Total (for one in 48 overs) 183.

Fall of wicket: 1-121.

Australia bowling: Lee 10-0-49-0, Siddle 14-5-34-0, Johnson 11-1-36-0, Hauritz 10-0-41-1, Clarke 3-0-14-0.

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