Cricket: Consolation victory for South Africans

Australia 227 and 185 South Africa 384 and 32 for 2 South Africa won by 8 wickets

South Africa completed a consolation eight-wicket victory over Australia on the fourth day of the third and final Test at Centurion Park yesterday.

South Africa dismissed Australia for 185 in their second innings and knocked off the 29 they needed for the loss of the openers Gary Kirsten and Adam Bacher.

"One day when we sit back in our armchairs we will kick ourselves for what happened in the second Test at Port Elizabeth - the series was a lot closer than people made out," Hansie Cronje, South Africa's captain, said.

Having been heavily beaten in the first Test in Johannesburg, South Africa lost a low-scoring second Test after holding a lead of 188 in their second innings with 10 wickets in hand. Australia won that match by two wickets to seal the series 2-0.

South Africa's victory came quickly yesterday thanks to Allan Donald, who took 5 for 36. It was his first five-wicket haul against Australia and the eighth in his 33-Test career.

Donald took three wickets yesterday as Australia, resuming on 96 for 4, added just 89 runs. Only Steve Waugh provided any resistance and his 313 runs at 78.3 earned him the man of the series award.

Donald bowled Greg Blewett in the first over and by lunch the Australians had also lost Michael Bevan and Ian Healy. Healy, caught down the leg side, was unhappy with the decision and threw his bat in anger as he approached the dressing room. He has been suspended from the first two one-day internationals, the first of which is on Saturday.

The tail was quickly wrapped up in the first seven overs after lunch.

Fourth day; South Africa won toss

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 227 (S R Waugh 67; B Schultz 4-52).

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings 384 (A M Bacher 96, H J Cronje 79no; G D McGrath 6-86).

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings

(Overnight: 96 for 4)

S R Waugh not out 60

G S Blewett b Donald 0

M G Bevan b Symcox 5

I A Healy c Richardson b Schultz 12

S K Warne lbw b Donald 12

J N Gillespie b Donald 0

G D McGrath b Klusener 11

Extras (b2 lb6 w4 nb14) 26

Total (73.4 overs) 185

Fall (cont): 5-99 6-108 7-131 8-164 9-164.

Bowling: Donald 18-5-36-5 (w3); Schultz 17-4-39-2 (w1 nb9); Klusener 14.4-1-40-1 (nb4); Symcox 19-5-49-2; Kallis 5-1-13-0 (nb1).

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings

G Kirsten c Taylor b Blewett 6

A M Bacher c Elliott b Gillespie 5

B M McMillan not out 7

D J Cullinan not out 12

Extras (w1 nb1) 2

Total (for 2, 6.4 overs) 32

Fall: 1-11 2-15.

Bowling: Gillespie 3.4-0-19-1 (w1); Blewett 3-0-13-1 (nb1).

Umpires: C J Mitchley (SA) and M J Kitchen (Eng).

Australia won series 2-1.