Perth: Emerging paceman Kagiso Rabada (5/92) took five wickets as South Africa won by 177 runs here to hand Australia a rare defeat in the first home cricket Test of their season here Monday at the WACA.
Set a huge victory target of 539, Australia were dismissed in their second innings for 361 on the final day as they succumbed to their fourth straight Test defeat.
Australia hadn’t lost the first Test of a home season since 1988, but Rabada stepped up after Dale Steyn’s shoulder injury to help South Africa complete a remarkable victory.
Steven Smith’s Australia lost all three Tests on their tour of Sri Lanka in July and August, and they will now look for a quick recovery at this week’s second Test in Hobart starting November 12.
Resuming at 169 for four, a draw was Australia’s only hope and it appeared a forlorn task, with man of the match Rabada ensuring their defeat by taking the wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc.
The rot set in early for Australia on the final day, when a searing Rabada yorker hit Marsh (26) on the pad on 26, although he was given not out by umpire Aleem Dar. The South Africans reviewed the decision and were successful, ending a 50-run stand between Marsh and Usman Khawaja.
Rabada then grabbed his fifth wicket when he trapped Starc lbw with another fast yorker for 13.
JP Duminy capped his fine match, having made a century in South Africa’s second innings, by claiming the wicket of Khawaja (97, 182b, 11×4, 3×6).
The only show of defiance came from Peter Nevill (60 n o, 153b, 6×4). But then as wickets continued to fall at the other end, Nevill ran out of partners.
Brief scores: South Africa 242 and 540 for eight decl; Australia 244 and 361 (Usman Khwaja 97, Peter Nevill 60, Kagiso Rabada 5/92). South Africa won by 177 runs.
Agence France-Presse
