CRICKET:SOUTH AFRICA are just one win away from becoming the best Test side in the world after condemning Australia to a first series defeat on home soil in almost 16 years following a nine-wicket victory in the second Test at the MCG in Melbourne.
The Proteas - led by a fluent 75 from captain Graeme Smith - overhauled a modest victory target of 183 for the loss of only one wicket on the final day to take an unassailable 2-0 lead and seal a first Test series triumph in Australia.
Hashim Amla, a man not burdened by scars from previous defeats to the hosts, stroked the winning runs shortly after lunch as South Africa became the first team to overcome Australia at home since the West Indies in 1992-93.
That was also the last occasion Australia lost back-to-back Tests at home.
The days of South Africa squandering winning positions against their illustrious opponents now appear to be gone, while Australia's 13-year reign at the top of world cricket could also soon come to an end.
Another loss in the final Test in Sydney, which would see Australia whitewashed for the first time in a series since 1984 against the West Indies, would see Ricky Ponting's side officially unseated by their opponents in the world rankings.
South Africa were never under any pressure in their run chase.
Needing a flurry of wickets early on the final day to have any hope of winning, Australia did not make a breakthrough until 16 minutes before lunch when Smith was trapped lbw by a Nathan Hauritz arm ball.
Smith had dominated a 121-run opening stand with Neil McKenzie and it was a shame for the Proteas skipper he was not there at the end having once again shown the kind of leadership befitting a man who was made captain of his country at the tender age of 22.
He cashed in on Australia's attacking approach, striking seven of his 10 boundaries with cuts and deflections through a vacant third man region.
However, Smith was unexpectedly the first to go as the captain had previously been untroubled at the crease with partner Neil McKenzie appearing the most vulnerable of the pair.
While unconvincing, McKenzie - who had made scores of two, 10 and zero in his three most recent innings - dug in and managed to eke out an unbeaten 59.
He survived strong lbw shouts from Brett Lee, who was bowling despite nursing an injured foot that will keep him out of the Sydney Test, and Mitchell Johnson.
Poignantly, he reached his half-century with a boundary after being missed by another out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden at first slip off Johnson's bowling.
South Africa captain Smith yesterday hailed his team's historic series triumph over Australia as "the greatest moment in South African cricket".
"It's got to be the most incredible season South African cricket has ever had particularly with the results that we've had. I don't think anyone would argue with that.
"It's a real honour for us to sit here today knowing we are the first team in 16 years to come and be victorious on these shores," Smith said.
In 2008 South Africa won 11 of 15 Test matches - which included a series win over England in England and a draw in India - and suffered just two losses.
It was also a breakthrough season personally for Smith, who signed the year off as the leading run scorer in Test cricket with 1656 runs - the third-highest in a calendar year in history behind Pakistan's Mohammed Yousuf and West Indies great Viv Richards.
Melbourne Scoreboard
South Africa:Second Innings
G C Smithlbw b Hauritz 75
N D McKenzienot out 59
H M Amlanot out 30
Extraslb9 w2 nb8 19
Total1 wkt (48 overs) 183
Fall:1-121.
Did Not Bat:J H Kallis, A B de Villiers, J P Duminy, M V Boucher, M Morkel, P L Harris, D W Steyn, M Ntini.
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.
• South Africa beat Australia by 9 wkts
