South Africa crush Aussies by 492 runs

Philander ripped through Australia’s middle and lower order to finish with figures of six for 21

JOHANNESBURG: Vernon Philander grabbed six wickets in a devastating spell of seam bowling as South Africa crushed Australia by a record 492 runs to clinch the four-match series 3-1 on Tuesday, leaving the tourists with much soul-searching to do.

The scandal-hit tourists had promised to fight for a draw on the final day to end a controversial tour on a positive note but their resistance lasted just 83 minutes as Philander ripped through the batting order to finish with careerbest figures of six for 21.

Australia were bowled out for a paltry 119 in their second innings to succumb to their heaviest ever loss to South Africa in terms of runs, their second biggest defeat against any opponent and the fourth biggest loss in Test cricket.

By contrast, South Africa completed their biggest victory over the Australians in Tests by runs, and sealed their first home series win over the demoralised visitors since 1970. The Australian side have been rocked by a ball-tampering scandal in which former captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were sent home after the third Test before being slapped with hefty bans.

Since that incident in Cape Town, they scored 447 runs for the loss of 30 wickets as the “mental disintegration” they are so famous for inflicting on opponents proved to be their own downfall.

“I don’t think it was one day too many, it was probably a few … but there has been enough spoken about the week that we have had and we are disappointed with the way we handled it,” new captain Tim Paine told reporters.

“This group had a chance to show some fight and determination today and we weren’t able to because mentally we weren’t quite there. At the moment there is a fair bit of disappointment and borderline embarrassment in our change room.”

Paine conceded that South Africa had been the better side since Australia claimed a 118-run win in the opening Test in Durban and that the tourists had wilted under the pressure.

“The performance is concerning, no doubt about that. From the Durban Test match, South Africa outplayed us purely on skill,” he said. “But we have also got some guys here who have played international cricket for a very long time and they will have to step up again now that we have lost two of the best players in the world for the foreseeable future.”

Philander took six wickets for three runs in 32 balls to carve through the tourists and keep fellow seamer Morne Morkel (two for 28) wicketless on his final morning of international cricket before his retirement.

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