It took Australia less than two sessions to wrap up the final nine South African wickets on day four of the Boxing Day Test to seal a series victory.
The story of the tour continued for the Proteas. At times on day four, South Africa appeared a genuine chance to push the Test match beyond what many expected, but again, too much of the line-up offered not enough.
Temba Bavuma (65) and Kyle Verreynne (33) were the primary resistance for the tourists and put on 63 for the fifth wicket. But consistent wickets – and dreadful running – meant South Africa were all out inside 68.5 overs, lasting exactly one more ball than they did in the first innings.
"Australia inflict an MCG thrashing on South Africa... Dave Warner’s celebratory Test finishes in the best possible way."
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) December 29, 2022
It's a series win for Australia at the MCG!
🎙 @GerardWhateley pic.twitter.com/3rxYPuYDPP
Without the seam option of Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon stepped up to be the pick of the Aussie bowlers, taking three wickets including that of Bavuma, which all but ended South Africa’s fight. The greatest off-spinner Australia's ever had will now finish 2022 with the equal most Test wickets, alongside Kagiso Rabada.
Hometown hero Scott Boland also chimed in with two wickets, while Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith were also rewarded.
David Warner was rightly handed Player of the Match honours for his double century in his 100th Test, while Alex Carey and Steve Smith were the other notable influential figures with the bat.
The victory by an innings and 182 runs follows on from the strong triumph at Brisbane by Cummins’ men and seals the three-Test series.
"Absolutely terrible... there's no other way to describe it." 😳
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) December 29, 2022
Smithy tears into South Africa as Travis Head capitalises with a direct hit! #AUSvSA #Cricket pic.twitter.com/AqljfW9WlW
It's the third time in the last seven Boxing Day Tests that Australia has won by over an innings.
In the four Tests Australia has played this summer, the closest was the six-wicket win in the first Test against South Africa when the Aussies were chasing just 35.
"It was the full arch, the full arched appeal from Nathan Lyon." 😂
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) December 29, 2022
Nathan Lyon knew he had his man and sent it upstairs! #Cricket #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/0ZE09VAPK5
South Africa's batting will again be under a microscope over the coming days after now eight consecutive innings under 200. The tourists also suffered three unforgivable runouts throughout the second Test.
It was a performance that left SEN Test Cricket's Bharat Sundaresan overwhelmingly disappointed in South Africa’s ability to stand up with the bat.
“Just not good enough as a batting lineup,” he stated.
“To be bowled out twice so cheaply on this pitch, today we saw when Bavuma was batting, there are no demons on this pitch.
“They had their say about what they got at the Gabba, they could have no complaints about this. Just low quality, mediocre Test batting.
“Some of the shots they got out to, the runouts, all of it added to it. I don’t think South Africa would have ever expected their incredible run in Australia to come to an end in this fashion.”
The series continues in Sydney on January 4.