The South African cricketers have added indignity to ignominy, inflicting a collapse of 10 wikets for 50 runs in 99 minutes of madness to record a 322-run victory over an Australian side reeling from the ball-tampering scandal.
The Proteas set Australia an imposing target of 430 on day four of the third Test in Cape Town, which will forever be marred by Steve Smith's revelation about his attempt to cheat by using sticky tape to illegally scuff the ball.
Morne Morkel Photo: Photosport
Australia were all out for 107 in their second innings with Bancroft top scoring with 26.... they lost their first wicket at 57.
"It's been a horrible 24 hours to be perfectly honest," stand-in skipper Tim Paine said.
"I'd like to take the opportunity to apologise to our fans and all Australians back home."
Captain Smith and vice-captain David Warner spoke with Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland prior to the start of play today and stood down from their leadership posts for the rest of the game, handing the reins to Paine.
South Africa snatched a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series, putting themselves in the box seat for their first Test series win over Australia at home since the fall of apartheid.
Warner and Cameron Bancroft, both at the centre of the saga that threatens to cost Smith the captaincy, showed great composure in helping their side reach 0-57.
An unnecessary run out of Bancroft, completed with a direct hit from Proteas captain Faf du Plessis, ignited unmitigated chaos as Australia slumped to be all out for 107.
Bancroft (26), Warner (32) and Mitch Marsh (16) were the only Australian batsmen to reach double figures. Paine finished nine not out and Smith scored seven.
Smith has copped a one-Test ban from the International Cricket Council, with Paine expected to lead the team in the series finale that starts in Johannesburg on Friday.
Morne Morkel, who finished with career-best match figures of 9-110, and Keshav Maharaj were both on hat-tricks in Cape Town.
The margin was one run short of equalling Australia's biggest Test loss to South Africa, in terms of runs.
It shattered a 61-year record for the biggest Test victory at Newlands in terms of runs, bettering England's effort at the ground in 1957.
Warner, Bancroft and Smith were all booed to and from the pitch.
-AAP
