Australia thrashed South Africa in the second match of the three-match Test series in Melbourne Cricket Ground by an innings and 182 runs on day 4. The Kangaroos won this match with a dominant all-round display on the field. South Africa needed a miracle to level the series but at least they could have shown a little more fight. Instead, they surrendered meekly in just over two sessions. With the win, the hosts took an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series.
Talking about the match, Australian skipper Pat Cummins opted to bowl first after winning the toss. And the decision was proved right by the Australian bowling department as they wrapped up the South African batting lineup on the score of just 189 runs. Cameron Green was the highest wicket-taker in the first inning as he clinched a fifer in just 10 overs he bowled.
South African batters continue to struggle
Coming in to bat, Australia took a massive lead thanks to the double hundred from David Warner, a maiden-Test hundred from Alex Carey, and some fine knocks from Cameron Green, Steven Smith, and Travis Head. Australia finished on 575/8 and they had a massive lead of 386 runs.
South Africa came to bat in the final session on Day 3 with the deficit being 386 runs. This was always going to be an uphill task for the Proteas looking at the current form with the blade in hand. They could only face 7 overs at the end of the third day as the rain forced the umpires to call for stumps early.
In the morning session on Day 4, Sarel Erwee and Theunis de Bruyn started well and were solid in their defense from the get-go. They built a stubborn stand of 47 runs off 94 deliveries but they lost both batters in quick succession. Temba Bavuma kept one end intact but saw quite a few wickets fall at the other end, as he smacked a half-ton. Later on, none of the tail-enders could whack their tails for long and the Proteas bundled out for 204 runs.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Any loss by an innings is a proper beating. These guys are bringing our country into disrepute.😭😭 #AUSvSA
— Tat'uRadebe (@hlubizer) December 29, 2022
What a win by Aussies 🥳..Take a bow 🤩 Smithy and Warner perfect comeback 🙌 waiting for series against india.#AUSvSA @stevesmith49 @davidwarner31 @patcummins30 https://t.co/rFyQsRVx4W
— Chaitanya Reddy (@ichaitanya_26) December 29, 2022
Going to tell my kids this was Marco Jansen and Temba Bavuma batting at the Boxing Day Test.#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/9Q5VAuG3bu
— faizi (@s57007270) December 29, 2022
SA folded before breakfast 🤷🏽♂️ #AUSvSA
— IPL Insider (@Cricket_Fantasy) December 29, 2022
Australia is almost unbeatable in Test at the moment..just champion stuff. #AUSvSA
— Ephraim Ghouri (@ghouriephraim5) December 29, 2022
What a shockingly crap performance by the Proteas in this series. We usually bring our A game on tour, but this was C or D at best. Elgar must go, maybe bring back Aiden Markram and find someone else who can bat #AUSvSA
— Larry Schlesinger (@larryschles) December 29, 2022
Aussies dominating matches like these tells us how good Indian team was against the same Australian team. No team can do what India did to Aussies #AUSvSA #IndianCricketTeam
— Pushkar Konasirasgi (@k_pushkar10) December 29, 2022
Very pleased with Australia’s crushing victory over South Africa in the Boxing Day Test. I think it’s our first home series win against SA since 2006. #AUSvSA
— Sorceror43 (@sorceror43) December 29, 2022
