Australia beat South Africa in the second test to seal the series

Australian players celebrate after defeating South Africa by an innings and 182 runs during the 2nd Cricket Test between South Africa and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia on December 29, 2022 | Photo Credit: AP

Australia dismissed South Africa for 204 and won by an innings and 182 runs with the help of Nathan Lyon’s 3-58 wickets on Thursday, the fourth day of the second Test match being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia won the series and will chase a 3–0 sweep in Sydney, where the third and final Test begins on 4 January.

Tamba Bavuma top-scored for South Africa with 65, although he was also instrumental in two run-outs.

Leading 15-1 on Thursday, South Africa lost three wickets in the morning session.

Mitchell Starc, recovering from a middle finger tendon injury with blood stains on his bowling hand, produced a sharp yorker to remove Sarel Ervi lbw for 21 at 47-2.

Ten runs later, Scott Boland had Theunis de Bruyn (28) caught at second slip as cracks continued to appear in the Proteas’ brittle batting line-up.

Those cracks widened when Bavuma ran out Khaya Zondo in demoralizing fashion for one at 65-4 after he pushed it towards mid-off and called Zondo out for a risky single.

Bavuma and Kyle Verreyn (33) battled hard to add 63 runs for the fourth wicket before Boland (2-49) dismissed Verreyn lbw in the fourth over after lunch at 128-5. After a video review, Marco Jansen (five) was dismissed in similar fashion by spinner Nathan Lyon after 16 runs.

Bavuma was involved in a second run-out, dramatically turning his back to Keshav Muhraj (13), who had to give up his third run attempt through cover and regained his ground at the striker’s end at 174-7. failed to achieve.

In the next over a wild slog from Bavuma was caught at mid-on as Lyon made their second victim of the innings and Kagiso Rabada (three) also made an effort, leaving Lyon at 177-9 in the next over.

Enrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi entertained the crowd with some big hitting as they added 27 runs for the last wicket, which fell before tea break on the fourth day.

Medium pacer Cameron Green took a career-best 5-27 in South Africa’s first innings of 189. All-rounder Green also scored an unbeaten 51 in Australia’s 575–8 in reply, before retiring hurt for six runs due to a right-index finger injury. Returned with a century partnership for the eighth wicket with wicketkeeper Alex Carey (111).

Green is ruled out of the third test.

Opener and man-of-the-match David Warner, who scored 200 in his 100th Test, gave Australia a solid base before late-order heroics with half-centuries from Steve Smith (85) and Travis Head (51). Green and Carey allowed captain Pat Cummins to declare in the first innings with an advantage of 386 runs.

The victory was Australia’s first Test series win at home against South Africa since 2005–06. The Proteas were victorious in 2008–09, 2012–13 and 2016–17.

Starc starred, taking 1-62 from 18 overs and is expected to focus on getting fit for Australia’s Test tour of India in February.