South Africa (167 and 340 for 5; Gibbs 104, Kirsten 64, Kallis 61*, Prince 48) beat Australia (315 and 186) by 5 wickets
scorecard

South Africa clinched a consolation win at Newlands in fitting style, when Mark Boucher, their put-upon stand-in captain, belted Mark Waugh high over midwicket for a cathartic six. South Africa's total was their highest in the fourth innings to win any Test, beating 297 for 4 against Australia at Melbourne back in 1952-53.

It was an epic, helter-skelter game which was all over before lunch on the fourth day. Herschelle Gibbs was named Man of the Match for his important double of 51 and 104. Adam Gilchrist predictably lifted the Man of the Series award for his 473 rapidfire runs at 157.67.

Australia's only hope, on a day which started with South Africa needing only 71 more to win, was quick wickets with a relatively new ball. But Jacques Kallis and an almost strokeless Ashwell Prince dug in to see off Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. Eventually Kallis hooked Lee for a pressure-releasing four, and a cover-drive in the same over brought up the half-century partnership.

Steve Waugh called up Shane Warne for a bit of the old magic, but the secret weapon misfired for once. Instead it was Prince who produced the goods, leaning back and powering one through the covers for four. Kallis drove two fours himself, and suddenly the target was shrinking fast.

Prince advanced to the brink of a maiden Test half-century, and a pulled four off Warne, followed by a single, took him to 48. But then, with the target down in single figures, Warne tugged Prince forward and had him edging low to Mark Waugh at slip (331 for 5). It was Warne's 450th Test wicket, in his 101st match. Boucher played his first delivery gingerly, but was much less worried when he had to face Waugh in the next over.

So the series ends 2-1 in Australia's favour, although all winter they have been treating these back-to-back series as one big World Championship decider. And overall, 5-1 doesn't sound too bad if you're an Aussie.

Steven Lynch is database director of Wisden.com.

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