Australia (439 and 309 for 7 dec) beat South Africa (374 and 128; Kallis 65*, McGrath 3-13, Warne 3-57) by 246 runs
scorecard

Australia completed a crushing 246-run victory just before tea on the final day of the first Test at Adelaide, to go one-up in the Test Championship decider series. The damage was done before lunch, when five key wickets tumbled. South Africa regrouped after the interval, but they were only delaying the inevitable. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne took three wickets each, and Warne two catches, to round off a pair of magnificent comebacks from the disappointments of the New Zealand series.

While Australia's champions came good, South Africa suffered from second-innings syndrome. They competed well over the first three days, but on the pivotal fourth their bowling let them down as Matthew Hayden led the way to another big total, compiled at high speed. Then South Africa's own second innings started badly … and got worse.

Only Jacques Kallis resisted the bowlers for long today. Calm and composed, he collected 65 runs without being unduly bothered. His closest shave came when Warne nearly touched a Lance Klusener straight-drive onto the stumps with Kallis out of his ground. Otherwise he drove, defended and deflected gutsily, and stroked seven fours. But he had less support than a white-sheeted Kylie Minogue, and the writing was on the dressing-room wall as early as the fifth over of the day.

Everyone had been tipping McGrath and Warne as the danger men, and they soon got to work. Boeta Dippenaar went half-forward to McGrath, and edged it low to first slip, where Warne scooped it in well (21 for 3).

And two balls later Neil McKenzie, so impressive in the first innings, padded up to one that came back in and flicked the pad, and after a moment's thought umpire Venkat raised that crooked finger (21 for 4). McKenzie wasn't too impressed, and it was a little high.

South Africa's Special Ks, Kallis and Klusener, stuck it out for nearly an hour. Kallis was smooth and safe, but Klusener was edgier, and he came to grief shortly after drinks at high noon. It was an eventful over from Jason Gillespie: Klusener carved a short one past point for four, then survived a close lbw shout. But there was no escape when Gillespie shaped one away. Klusener went half-forward and edged it to first slip, where Warne took a screamer close to his chest (54 for 5).

New batsman Mark Boucher barely survived his first ball, which came back in a little and kept low. But in Gillespie's next over Boucher gloved one down the leg side, and Adam Gilchrist hung on (58 for 6).

Shaun Pollock squeezed a single to avoid his pair, but that was his lot in a miserable match. He prodded forward to Warne, the ball went from pad to bat and shot past Ricky Ponting at silly point. He somehow stretched behind him and grabbed it one-handed, his second spectacular snare of the match (67 for 7).

When Claude Henderson departed in the first over after lunch, bat-padding another one to Ponting at silly point (74 for 8), it looked as if the match would be wrapped up within minutes, but Kallis and Ntini delayed the inevitable for almost an hour, and ensured that South Africa passed the previous-lowest total at the Adelaide Oval (Australia's 82 v West Indies in 1951-52), and reached three figures.

But it couldn't last. Eventually Brett Lee zeroed in a yorker, which hit Ntini's left foot before rapping the stumps (113 for 9). And after an entertaining series of swishes, slogs and sundry air-shots, Nantie Hayward edged Lee to Gilchrist.

South Africa may be second-best in the world – but they were decidedly second-best in this match. It will take more than the return of Allan Donald at Melbourne to turn this series round now.

2.25pm South Africa 103 for 8 (Kallis 54*, Ntini 4*) need 272 more to beat Australia

When Claude Henderson departed in the first over after lunch it looked as if the match would be wrapped up within minutes, but Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini have delayed the inevitable for almost an hour now, and at least ensured that South Africa passed the previous-lowest total at the Adelaide Oval (82) and reached three figures.

Henderson bat-padded a smart catch to Ricky Ponting at silly point. Any doubt about whether he'd hit it were removed when Henderson took a couple of steps towards the dressing-room (74 for 8).

Kallis continued his calm vigil, trying to protect Ntini when possible but not afraid to punish the bad ball. He reached a well-deserved half-century when he sent a perfect cover-drive purring to the fence. It was his sixth four, from 121 balls faced.

Lunch South Africa 73 for 7 (Kallis 28*, Henderson 3*) need 302 more to beat Australia

It's only a matter of time now as Australia close in on victory in the first Test of the World Championship decider series at Adelaide. Five wickets went down on the final morning – three of them for ducks – as South Africa looked more second-best than second-best in the world.

Jacques Kallis has been solid at one end, but he's fast running out of partners. One more wicket will expose Messrs Ntini and Hayward, so the fat lady will be running through her repertoire backstage.

It didn't take long for Australia to strike this morning. Everyone had been tipping Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as the danger men, and they got to work in the fifth over of the day. Boeta Dippenaar went half-forward to McGrath, and edged it low to first slip, where Warne scooped it in well (21 for 3).

And with no addition to the score Neil McKenzie, so composed and correct in the first innings, padded up to his second ball. It came back in and flicked the pad, and after a moment's thought umpire Venkat raised that crooked finger (21 for 4). McKenzie wasn't too impressed, and it did look a little high.

South Africa's Special Ks, Kallis and Klusener, survived for nearly an hour. Kallis was calm and correct, but Klusener was edgier, and he came to grief shortly after the noon drinks break. It was an eventful over from Jason Gillespie: Klusener carved a short ball away past point for four, then survived a close lbw shout. But there was no escape when Gillespie shaped one away. Klusener went half-forward and edged it to first slip, where Shane Warne took a screamer close to his chest (54 for 5).

New batsman Mark Boucher barely survived his first ball, which came back in a little and kept low. But in Gillespie's next over Boucher gloved one shooting down leg, and Adam Gilchrist took the catch (58 for 6).

It's been a miserable match for Shaun Pollock. He was out first ball in the first innings, and bowled below his usual high standards. He squeezed a single to avoid his pair, but that was all: he prodded forward to Warne, the ball went from pad to bat and shot out past Ricky Ponting at silly point. He somehow stretched behind him and caught it one-handed, his second spectacular snare of the match (67 for 7).

It completed a morning to forget for South Africa. They will be hoping for the respectability of a three-figure total this afternoon: that victory target of 375 has long ceased to be relevant.

12.50pm South Africa 69 for 7 (Kallis 26*, Henderson 1*) need 306 more to beat Australia

Shane Warne completed a miserable match for Shaun Pollock by dismissing him as South Africa crumbled on the final morning of the first Test of the World Championship decider series at Adelaide.

Pollock was out first ball in the first innings, and bowled below his usual high standards. He squeezed a single to avoid his pair, but that was as far as he got: he prodded forward to Warne, the ball went from pad to bat and shot out past Ricky Ponting at silly point. But he somehow stretched behind him and caught it one-handed, his second fine catch of the match (67 for 7).

Jacques Kallis is looking solid at the other end – but he's running out of partners. One more wicket will expose Messrs Ntini and Hayward, so the fat lady will be running through her repertoire backstage.

12.25pm South Africa 58 for 6 (Kallis 18*, Pollock 0*) need 317 more to beat Australia

After an hour without a wicket, Jason Gillespie broke through with two as Australia closed in on victory in the first Test of the World Championship decider series at Adelaide.

First Lance Klusener's edgy innings was ended shortly after the drinks break. It was an eventful over: Klusener carved a short ball away past point for four, then survived a close lbw shout. But there was no escape when Gillespie shaped one away. Klusener went half-forward and edged it to first slip, where Shane Warne took a screamer close to his chest (54 for 5).

New batsman Mark Boucher barely survived his first ball, which came back in a little and kept low. But in Gillespie's next over Boucher got a glove to one shooting down leg, and Adam Gilchrist took the catch (58 for 6).

Shaun Pollock came in on a king pair, but survived his first ball from the rampaging Gillespie. But it will take a miracle to save his side now.

12 noon South Africa 48 for 4 (Kallis 13*, Klusener 14*) need 327 more to beat Australia

South Africa stumbled through the first hour on the final day at Adelaide without losing any more wickets. But Glenn McGrath's double strike in his third over of the day still looks like a mortal blow. There were sighs of relief from the visiting dressing-room when McGrath took a breather after a morning spell of 6-4-5-2.

Jacques Kallis has been calm and correct, stroking McGrath and Shane Warne for fours. His hairiest moments came when he ducked into a McGrath bouncer and survived an lbw appeal, and later when Lance Klusener hammed a Warne full-toss back at the bowler and a deflection just missed the stumps with Kallis out of his ground.

At the other end Klusener has lived dangerously. He narrowly escaped a stumping after dragging his foot over the line against Warne, then ducked one from Jason Gillespie which took the back of the bat and could have flown anywhere. It actually looped down to long leg for a single.

11.20am South Africa 21 for 4 (Kallis 4*, Klusener 0*) need 354 more to beat Australia

It didn't take long for Australia to strike. Everyone had been tipping Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as the danger men, and they combined to send back Boeta Dippenaar in the fifth over of the day. Dippenaar went half-forward to McGrath, and edged it low to first slip, where Warne took it well (21 for 3).

And with no addition to the score South Africa suffered another grievous blow. Neil McKenzie, so composed and correct in the first innings, padded up to his second ball from McGrath. It came back in and flicked the pad, and after a moment's though umpire Venkat raised that crooked finger of his (21 for 4). McKenzie wasn't too impressed, and it did look a little high.

After five overs the only scoring shot was a pull for four by Jacques Kallis off a shortish loosener in Warne's first over of the day.

11am South Africa 17 for 2 (Dippenaar 0*, Kallis 0*) need 358 more to beat Australia

There's bad news for South Africa – it's hot and sunny at Adelaide, and play will start on time. And there's even more bad news – Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, with nearly 800 Test wickets between them, are revved up and raring to get at them.

It will be a tough day for the South African batsmen. Thoughts of victory flew out of the dressing-room window with those two late wickets last night. Today will be all about survival. The first task for Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Kallis will be to survive the first hour. Only one wicket fell in the first hour of any of the first four days, Justin Langer yesterday, so that's a realistic aim.

But batting out the whole day against a rampant Australian side, on a pitch where the odd one is keeping low off the cracks ... that's a different story.

Teams
Australia 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Justin Langer, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Mark Waugh, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Damien Martyn, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Shane Warne, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Jason Gillespie, 11 Glenn McGrath.

South Africa 1 Gary Kirsten, 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Boeta Dippenaar, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Neil McKenzie, 6 Lance Klusener, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Shaun Pollock (capt), 9 Claude Henderson, 10 Makhaya Ntini, 11 Nantie Hayward.

Steven Lynch will be sending exclusive bulletins on the play from Australia for Wisden.com throughout the series against South Africa. And Ian Healy, the former Australian wicketkeeper, will be delivering his authoritative Session by Session reports at lunch, tea and the close on each day of the series.

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