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Australia beats S Africa by 184 runs

Fans cheer off Australian Mike Hussey, winner of man of the match on the final day of the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and South Africa in Melbourne on Friday. Australia won the test by 184 runs. PHOTO: EPA

Mike Hussey solved some middle-order angst and allrounder Andrew Symonds fulfilled his test match potential as Australia wrapped up a 184-run win yesterday over South Africa.

The South Africans were bowled out for 181, two minutes after lunch on the last day of the second test, chasing 366 to win.

Australians Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden posted centuries to finish atop the runscoring lists for 2005 and legspinner Shane Warne took 4-74 in the last innings, giving him a record 96 wickets for the year and boosting his world record to 657 overall.

"We have dominated the last two matches and are now 1-0 up, so that's a very good position for us," said Ponting. "We played really well this game and deserved it."

The South Africans rued three dropped catches, which cost them 305 runs.

Ponting (117) and Hussey (122) were dropped on 17 and 27 in the first innings and Hayden (137) was dropped on 27 in the second.

Hussey was really punishing, recovering to dominate a 107-run last- wicket stand with Glenn McGrath (11 not out) that lifted Australia's first innings from 248-9 to 355 and changed the momentum of the match.

South Africa was out for 311 in reply and Symonds compounded Australia's advantage with an explosive innings of 72 from 54 balls -- including a ground record six sixes.

He shared a 66-minute, 124-run partnership with Hayden after lunch on day four before Australia declared at 321-7, leaving South Africa 132 overs to bat.

Symonds returned to take 2-6 in four overs as South Africa struggled to 99-6 at stumps.

South Africa had batted through the last four sessions in Perth to salvage a draw in the first test, but there was little chance of repeating in Melbourne.

Smith said the loss and the likely absence of pace spearhead Makhaya Ntini with an injured knee would not dent his confidence in the third test.

He said it took nine days for either team to really put three dominating sessions together, which Australia achieved on day four.

"I don't think we're disappointed with the fact we got bowled out in the last innings -- what's disappointing is that we had opportunities to win the game," said Smith. "The teams are matched up pretty well.

Sydney "is going to be very tightly fought. We're 1-0 down but we're going to come back hard."

Shaun Pollock resisted the Australian attack for most of the morning yesterday and scored a defiant 67 until he ran out of partners when Stuart MacGill bowled Ntini (2).

Ashwell Prince (26) was out to a controversial decision to Warne to trigger the demise, before McGrath dismissed tailenders Nicky Boje (13) and Andre Nel (2) just before lunch.

Prince's dismissal is destined to cast more attention on Warne's enthusiastic appealing.

Umpire Asad Rauf ruled that Prince got an edge to Ponting, who took a diving catch at short leg, when replays showed the ball deflected off the batsman's elbow without touching the bat.

Prince, who faced 120 balls and shared a 48-run partnership with Pollock, was South Africa's last recognized batsman and his dismissal made the total 130-7.
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