Australia have completed a 175-run win in the second Test in Durban, bowling South Africa out for 370 to claim a 2-0 lead in the three-match series and retain their No.1 ranking.
Peter Siddle took 3-61 off 28 overs and occasional spinner Simon Katich grabbed 3-45 as Australia bowled out the home side before tea on the fifth day at the Kingsmead ground.
Chasing a world-record target of 546 to win, South Africa resumed on 2-244 and soon lost the key wickets of Jacques Kallis for 93 and AB De Villiers for 84.
Dropped on five by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off Siddle’s bowling, JP Duminy gloved a rearing short ball from Ben Hilfenhaus to Haddin who accepted the chance at 5-299.
Katich, who didn’t bowl during Australia’s five home Tests earlier this summer, claimed his 14th wicket when he had Harris caught at mid-on by a diving Siddle at lunch.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher’s two-and-a-half hours of resistance ended when he was caught and bowled by spinner Marcus North for 25 at 7-345.
Tailender Morne Morkel also battled hard for his 24 in 101 minutes but he was Katich’s second victim, caught behind after edging a ball onto his pad and Haddin caught it between his legs.
Steyn was stumped off Katich’s bowling for seven and skipper opener Graeme Smith didn’t bat because of a fractured right little finger.
Makhaya Ntini was not out four.
Siddle had dismissed openers Neil McKenzie (31) and Hashim Amla (43) on day four.
Man-of-the-match Phillip Hughes was finally dismissed for 160 before Australia declared at 5-331 early on day four. The 20-year-old opener, playing his second Test, became the youngest player to make two centuries in the same Test match.
The dead-rubber third Test starts in Cape Town on March 19.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said it was always rewarding to bounce back after a series defeat.
Ponting compared the feeling of achievement to when his side beat England 5-0 in 2006-07 after handing the Ashes back to England in 2005.
“We had a similar sort of feeling after the 2005 Ashes series,” Ponting said.
“All of a sudden we look good again (for the 2009 Ashes series).
“I’m extremely proud of the whole group. Coming here we knew we had our backs to the wall (having lost 2-1 in Australia to South Africa in January).
“We have played some amazing cricket in the first two Tests.”
Ponting also paid tribute to Hughes, Marcus North (who made a century in the first Test in Johannesburg) and paceman Ben Hilfenhaus, who have all been impressive in their debut series.
Smith confirmed he wouldn’t play in the third Test and expressed his disappointment at his side’s fadeout after winning the series in Australia.
“We just haven’t been able to maintain that intensity,” said Smith, wearing a large bandage on his right hand.
“They have kept us under pressure for long periods of time.
“It’s our first loss in 10 or 11 series now. We’ve got to look at ourselves and take it on the chin.”
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