Proteas claim historic win
21 December, 2008

AB de Villiers AB de Villiers and debutant J.P. Duminy have led South Africa to a history-making 3 Mobile Test victory over Australia in Perth, the Proteas making 414 to claim the second-highest successful run chase in history

De Villiers crafted a careful, unbeaten 106 on the fifth day at the WACA, taking a back-seat to Jacques Kallis (57) in the morning session as the pair posted a 124-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Kallis became Mitchell Johnson's third wicket of the innings and his 11th for the match when he was caught by Mike Hussey with a sharp catch at point, giving the Australians hope of a sensational victory as the Proteas still had 111 runs to make.

But Duminy showed maturity beyond his years, setting aside a first innings failure as he resisted a determined Johnson during the early stages of his knock and combined with de Villiers for a 111-run partnership that took the Proteas to 4-414, a six-wicket victory.

With three runs needed to win, Duminy stroked Johnson through covers, the batsmen scuttling through for three runs as Andrew Symonds chased it down, giving the debutant an unbeaten and very memorable 50.

"It's not easy to describe," said Man of the Match de Villiers after the match, the batsman spending most of the press conference, head in hands mentally and physically drained.

"Things went our way, that's part of the game and I'm just delighted that we came through."

"JP and I got together and we've played cricket together from a very young age, we understand each other's games and it just paid off today," he said.

The result looked particularly unlikely after the second day, when Johnson produced a sensational spell to dismiss five South African wickets for two runs, seeing the Proteas slump from a comfortable 3-234 in their first innings to eventually be bowled out for 281.

Johnson's 8-61 followed by 3-98 in the second dig gave the 27-year-old match figures of 11-159, the first ten-wicket haul of his career, but it wasn't enough as a determined South Africa dragged themselves off the canvas following the second day failure.

Some tight bowling and inspired fielding on the third day, combined with a few particularly sloppy strokes by the Australian top order, saw the home side slump to 7-162.

But a sparkling 94 from Brad Haddin, who combined with the tail for 157 of the 319 second innings' runs, saw Australia set South Africa a massive 414 to win the encounter over five sessions.

"I really think we had an opportunity to play them out of the game and bat them out of the game with our second innings," said Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.

"Whether we weren't good enough, or mentally we weren't in the right place to do that, to occupy the crease and build a really good second innings total, I'm not sure but 319, as it turned out was nowhere near enough in the second innings."

"It is a bit of a worry that we weren't good enough to take 20 wickets in this Test and to only take four in the fourth innings is very disappointing for everybody."

Despite Proteas opener Neil McKenzie falling for 10 after an hour of intense bowling from Brett Lee and Johnson after lunch on day four, Proteas skipper Graeme Smith laid aside the ghosts of past failures against Australia to score his maiden ton against the home side, a bullish 108 as he combined with Hashim Amla (53) for 153 runs.

The departure of that pair an hour before an incredible 8 o'clock pm stumps gave Australia hope leading into the fifth day but that was soon blown away as Kallis and de Villiers scored runs with ease against an Australian attack blunted by a pitch offering no movement off the deck.

Kallis lived dangerously and offered a few chances after Australia took the new ball 16 overs into the morning before being dismissed for 57.

But Duminy proved he had the mettle for the contest, he and de Villiers leading the Proteas home.

Aside from Johnson, Australia's attack lacked bite. Brett Lee (1-73) appeared dangerous on the fourth day but lowered his colours on Sunday and was expensive, while Jason Krejza and Peter Siddle were wicketless at the expense of 102 and 84 runs respectively.


It's the first time Australia has lost the first Test of a series on home soil since it failed against the West Indies in Brisbane during 1988-98.

The result will also the Proteas a sensational chance to win their first Test Series against Australia since the nation's re-introduction to world cricket in 1992 and of becoming the first side since the West Indies in 1992-93 to defeat the Aussies at home.