Proteas ruin Ricky Ponting fairytale, winning the third Test to claim the series
AUSTRALIA arrived at the WACA Ground this morning with high hopes of pulling off the greatest of all run chases in Ricky Ponting’s final Test.
Ponting’s decorated international career ended on a low note as South Africa retained their No. 1 Test ranking with a crushing 309-run defeat of a hapless Australia in the third and deciding match of an epic series.
The losing margin could have been a lot more if not for an entertaining last-wicket partnership of 87 by Mitchell Starc (68 not out) and Nathan Lyon (31).
Starc cracked the second-fastest Test half-century (32 balls) by an Australian in what was the only highlight on a sad and emotional day for the home side.
Chasing a monumental 632 for an unlikely victory that would have farewelled former skipper Ponting in the most remarkable fashion, Australia was rolled for 322 late on the fourth day.
No one was prepared to rule out an Australian victory, especially with the home side having 10 wickets in hand when play resumed this morning.
But that all changed when David Warner (29) edged to Graeme Smith at first slip off the second ball.
The day will be not remembered for South Africa’s second straight series triumph on Australian soil, but rather as the day one of the game’s greats farewelled international cricket.
In a sight rarely seen on the cricket field, Smith and his men formed a guard of honour for Ponting as he made his way to the middle for the final time in his 168th Test.
The South Africans form a guard of honour out of respect for Ricky Ponting, who ended his illustrious 17-year Test career at the WACA today. Source: Getty Images
The privileged Perth crowd was also on its feet to applaud the retiring former skipper, who made 96 on Test debut at the same venue 17 years ago.
Fans all around Australia held their breath as the 37-year-old faced his first delivery, which he comfortably drove along the ground to cover for no run.
As only he can, Ponting got off the mark with a magnificent pull shot to the boundary from the fifth ball he faced.
An on-drive for another four a few overs later was to be his final run-scoring shot in Test cricket before he edged to Jacques Kallis at slip off the spin of Robin Peterson just three balls before the lunch break.
It was a soft dismissal and a sad way for Australia’s greatest run-scorer in Test cricket, with 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85 to leave the game.
Every South African player shook Ponting’s hand as he walked off the ground, while the stunned crowd rose as one to bid farewell to a true champion.
Ponting took his helmet off and stopped just metres before the boundary rope to soak up the applause, before raising his bat and turning to face the crowd on the northern side of the ground.
Ed Cowan (53) was his usual patient self through the morning session and looked set for a long innings before uncharacteristically hitting a catch down Dean Elgar’s throat at deep square leg three balls after reaching his half-century.
Australia’s fading hopes of victory rested with in-form skipper Michael Clarke and local hero Mike Hussey.
The pair both scored centuries in the first two Tests of the series and needed to repeat their heroics in Brisbane and Adelaide to even contemplate a remarkable win.
Play was halted for several minutes when Clarke was struck in the groin and floored by a Vernon Philander thunderbolt when on 12.
That hurts ... Michael Clarke is down for the count after being struck in the groin by a Vernon Philander delivery. Source: Getty Images
After regaining his composure, Clarke went on the attack and was doing just enough to have the Proteas worried he might go on to post a third double century in as many matches.
But a major brain-fade on 44 saw Clarke lose his wicket - stumped by AB de Villiers off surprise packet Peterson - was the final nail in the coffin and it was only a matter of time before the tourists could start celebrating their 1-0 series win.
Hussey (26) and Matthew Wade (10) departed in consecutive overs as tea approached before Starc and Lyon delayed the inevitable with the highest last-wicket partnership in Perth Test match history.
Hashim Amla, who made 196 in South Africa's second dig, was named man of the match while Clarke was crowned player of the series after plundering 577 runs at 114.25 over the three Tests.
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