Morne Morkel picked up five wickets as he led South Africa to a brilliant 322-run win in the third Test at Newlands.
The win saw the Proteas take a 2-1 lead in the series, and with just one more game to go, they will take with them the knowledge that they can no longer lose the series.
Morkel, who will be retiring from all international cricket after the game at the Wanderers, bowled beautifully as he finished with figures of 5-23 for the innings, and 9-110 in the game in which he picked up his 300th Test dismissal. It was also Morkel’s best match figures of his Test career. For his effort, he was named the Man of the Match.
Keshav Maharaj, who picked up two wickets in two balls, was the other standout bowler for the home side, although the stats show that Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander also put in worthy performances in the final innings of the game.
Having begun their second innings with an opening stand of 57 runs, Australia lost ball tamperer Cameron Bancroft for 26 when he was run out by Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis, and what followed was a monumental collapse by the visitors.
Warner followed soon after when he was dismissed by Rabada for 32. It was the fourth time Rabada picked up the wicket of Warner, having got him out once in Durban and Port Elizabeth, and now twice at Newlands.
Warner’s wicket brought Steve Smith to the middle, and with Rabada finding some good bounce on the pitch, the crowd was on their feet as the home side found some momentum.
AB de Villiers produced a good catch as Maharaj dismissed Usman Khawaja for one, and Aiden Markram pulled off an even better one with the following ball to send Shaun Marsh back to the stands for a first-ball duck. Smith was motionless and looked on in disbelief as the team he captained until Saturday evening lost two wickets in consecutive balls.
The pressure began to mount on the Australians and they found themselves five wickets down when Smith steered a Morkel delivery to Dean Elgar at gully to depart for just seven. Mitchell Marsh’s 16 was the top score for the lower order as Morkel ripped them apart to secure the victory.
South Africa 311 (1st innings): Dean Elgar 141*, AB de Villiers 64; Pat Cummins 4-78, Nathan Lyon 2-43
Australia 255 (1st innings): Cameron Bancroft 77, Nathan Lyon 47; Morne Morkel 4-87, Kagiso Rabada 3-91
South Africa 373 (2nd innings): Aiden Markram 84, Quinton de Kock 65; Pat Cummins 3-67, Josh Hazlewood 2-69
Australia 107 (2nd innings): David Warner 32, Cameron Bancroft 26; Morne Morkel 5-23, Keshav Maharaj 2-32
South Africa win by 322 runs
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
