30 December, 2008

Greame Smith South Africa is just one win away from officially being the new No.1 Test nation after sending Australia plummeting to its first series loss on home soil in 16 years with a nine-wicket victory in the second Test at the MCG on Tuesday.

On a pitch showing few of the gremlins expected on a fifth day, the Proteas - led by a fluent 75 from captain Greame Smith - overhauled Australia's modest target of 183 for the loss of only one wicket.

Hashim Amla, a man not burdened by scars from previous defeats to Australia, stroked the winning runs shortly after lunch as the Proteas became the first team to breach Australia's seemingly impenetrable fortress at home since the West Indies in 1992-93.

That was also the last occasion Australia lost back-to-back Tests at home.

The days of South Africa losing to Australia from any position appear gone. So too, it seems, Australia's 13-year reign at the top of world cricket.

In the past three months, Australia has suffered series defeats abroad and at home at the hands of the second- and third-ranked nations.

Another loss in Sydney would see Ricky Ponting's side officially unseated in the world rankings.

The Proteas were never under any trouble in their run chase. In fact, they did not even flirt with danger.

Needing a flurry of wickets early on the final day to have any hope of winning, Australia did not break through until 16 minutes before lunch when Smith was trapped in front by a Nathan Hauritz arm ball.

By then, Smith had dominated a 121-run opening stand with Neil McKenzie. Australia's death rites had well and truly been read.

It was a shame for Smith, with the pinnacle well within sight, that he could not be the one hoisting the South African flag at the top of cricket's equivalent to Mount Everest.

Throughout this tour, and again in this run chase, he has shown the leadership befitting a man who was made captain of his country at the tender age of 22.

He cashed in on Australia's all-out offence, striking seven of his 10 boundaries with cuts and deflections to a vacant third man region.

It was somewhat of a surprise Smith was the first man out as the captain had been untroubled, and his partner McKenzie appeared the most vulnerable of the pair.

While unconvincing, McKenzie - who had made scores of two, 10 and zero in his three most recent innings - rolled with the punches to eke out an unbeaten 59.


He survived strong lbw shouts from Brett Lee, who was bowling despite nursing an injured foot that is likely to keep him out of the Sydney Test, and Mitchell Johnson.

Poignantly, he reached his half-century with a boundary after being missed by another out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden at first slip off Johnson's bowling.