Cricket: Australia humbled by class of Cronje: Dogged last-wicket partnership between Hughes and May fails to prevent South African celebrations

South Africa 251 and 450-9 dec; Australia 248 and 256. South Africa win by 197 runs

A FINE all-round bowling performance by South Africa destroyed Australia's much-lauded batting line-up to secure a 197-run victory in the first Test at the Wanderers ground, Johannesburg, yesterday.

Set a daunting 454 to win, Australia were dismissed for 256 in their second innings. The wickets, as in the first innings, were evenly shared among the four seam bowlers. Brian McMillan took 3 for 61 and there were two each for Allan Donald, Fanie de Villiers and Craig Matthews.

However, it was the man of the match, Hansie Cronje, who delivered the final blow, having Tim May caught at short leg by Gary Kirsten after he and Merv Hughes (26 not out) had staved off the inevitable for 68 minutes with a last- wicket partnership of 21.

After hitting two boundaries at the start of the day, Mark Waugh edged a delivery from Donald to the wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson, who claimed his 50th dismissal in only his 12th Test, beating the previous fastest to that mark by Australia's Rodney Marsh, who reached his half-century of victims in 13 Tests.

Australia's middle order then crumbled: Gary Kirsten took a great catch to remove Allan Border, Steve Waugh fell first ball to Matthews, who then bowled David Boon (whose 83 runs had taken 273 minutes) in the last over before lunch.

Shane Warne and Craig McDermott fell in the same McMillan over before some showers threatened to deny South Africa their triumph. Cronje's third ball, though, ended the match.

(Final day: South Africa won toss)

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings 251 (J N Rhodes 69).

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 248.

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings 450 for 9 dec (W J Cronje 122, P N Kirsten 53).

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings

(Overnight: 123 for 2)

D C Boon b Matthews. . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

M E Waugh c Richardson b Donald. . . . . . . .28

*A R Border c G Kirsten b McMillan . . . . . .14

S R Waugh c Richardson b Matthews . . . . . . .0

I A Healy c and b Donald . . . . . . . . . . .30

M G Hughes not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

S K Warne lbw b McMillan. . . . . . . . . . . .1

C J McDermott b McMillan . . . . . . . . . . .10

T B A May c G Kirsten b Cronje . . . . . . . .11

Extras (lb5 nb2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Total (96.3 overs). . . . . . . . . . . . . .256

Fall: 3-136 4-164 5-164 6-191 7-219 8-225 9-235.

Bowling: Donald 23-3-71-2; De Villiers 30-11-70-2; McMillan 19-2-61-3; Matthews 20-6-42-2; G Kirsten 4-0-7-0; Cronje 0.3-3-0-1.