Cameron Green snagged his maiden Test five-wicket haul, David Warner smashed a famous double-century, and Alex Carey notched the first century of his Test career as Australia breezed past South Africa by an innings and 182 runs at the MCG to win their three-Test series 2-0.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins made the shock decision to bowl first upon winning the toss and the decision was rewarded with a dominant opening session.
The South Africans were 5-for-67 before a 112-run partnership between wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and fast bowler Marco Jansen steadied the ship only for their final five wickets to fall for just 10 runs.
Green took a career-best 5-for-27 whilst Mitchell Starc took 2-for-39.
Some sharp fielding courtesy of Marnus Labuschagne ran Proteas skipper Dean Elgar out for the first time in his 81-match Test career.
Five Australians raised their bats in the side’s opening innings with none more intense than David Warner who reached 200 for the third time in his Test career before retiring hurt due to cramps.
Warner returned to the crease early on Day 3 only to fall victim to a Nortje peach on his first delivery.
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Steve Smith fell short of a 30th Test hundred with Nortje managing to send him on his way for 85.
Travis Head notched another fifty – his fourth 50-plus score in six innings – whilst Cameron Green – who also spent time retired hurt – overcame a nasty finger injury to bring up an unbeaten half-century.
Alex Carey was the star of Day 3, however, with the South Australian wicketkeeper hitting the first hundred of his short Test career and receiving a proud ovation from the Melbourne faithful.
Australia declared at 8-for-575 with a 386-run lead.
There was some doubt over whether Starc – who suffered ligament damage to his finger after a fielding mishap – would bowl in the third innings but the veteran quick took the field and put together a gutsy display.
Cummins dismissed Elgar for zero before rain stopped play for the day.
371 runs in arrears and staring down the barrel of a convincing series defeat, South Africa entered Day 4 with little chance at troubling the Australians.
Another middle-order collapse had the visitors at 4-for-65.
Temba Bavuma and Verreynne showed some resistance, however, Bavuma began running out of partners and appeared to have had his confidence knocked after he played a role in a disastrous Keshav Maharaj run-out.
Nortje and Lungi Ngidi made a strong account of themselves with a gallant, 27-run stand for the final wicket but, as the series has been from the outset, it was all Australia.
Nathan Lyon finished with three whilst Boland grabbed two.
The Proteas were rolled for 204 as Australia claimed their first win over South Africa by an innings since 2002.
Warner received the Mullagh Medal for Player of the Match.
The third and final Test of the series begins on Wednesday 4 January in Sydney with World Test Championship implications still on the line for both sides.
