1st INNINGS
SA won the toss and chose to field.
Australia found themselves 98-4 before Marsh and Smith produced a 233 run partnership that put the Australia in the driving seat.
Moreover, Marsh reached his 2nd Test century and Smith reached his 4th Test century.
Australia added exactly 100 runs to their score before they were all dismissed for 397 runs.
Graeme Smith started the Proteas innings with a boundary, unfortunately he lost his wicket after scoring only 10 runs. Smith, Petersen, du Plessis and McLaren fell quickly to the aggressive Johnson.
The fall of the wickets in quick succession left the Proteas at 43-4 at one stage.
No.1 Test batsman AB de Villiers came in and tried to salvage the innings for the Proteas and reached his 35th half century before the close of play, with South Africa 257 runs behind and in need of 58 runs to avoid the follow on.
The wicket of Peterson resulted in Johnson's 11th Test 5-wicket haul.
A single between Steyn and de Villiers helped South Africa avoid the follow-on as they managed to attain the runs they needed to avoid the follow-on.
Unfortunately de Villiers fell 9 runs short of his half century.
The Proteas were all out for 206, still trailing the Australia by 191 runs.
With both 1st innings done and dusted, Johnson finished with figures of 7-68, which is his 3rd best in Test cricket.
2nd INNINGS
Beginning with a lead of 151 runs, and losing an early wicket, the Australia applied the pressure with Doolan and Warner recording the highest 2nd wicket partnership at Centurion of 205 runs.
After being dropped several times, Warner reached his 6th Test century while Doolan got his maiden Test 50.
After adding only 2 runs to their overnight score and before Marsh was dismissed for 44 runs, the declaration followed.
Many thought the Australia would declare after an hour or so or overnight. I'm thinking Clarke wanted Marsh to get a half century and take it from there.
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Australia left the Proteas needing 482 runs to win, with a day and a half (or so) play left.The Proteas had a terrible start, with the wicket of Petersen being Johnson's 250th Test wicket.
Amla reached 6 000 Test runs. Which also makes him the second fastest South African to reach the milestone.
5 wickets down and Johnson claimed his 3rd Test 10-wicket haul and soon secured his 12th Test 5-wicket haul.
South Africa only managed 200 runs before they were all out. Australia then won by 281 runs with a day to spare.
The defeat was the second highest loss to Australia.
Johnson was named Man of the Match after taking 12 wickets for 127 runs.
Australia lead the 3-match series 1-0.
Besides the dropped catches, the extras and no partnerships ...
What went wrong?
Was it the line up?
Or did the Proteas get it in their minds that they cannot win without King Kallis?
The Proteas overall performance - I'm speechless.
