Cricket: Aussies on top of the world

MELBOURNE - Australia re-affirmed their status as the best side in the world after a crushing second Test victory over South Africa gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

The South Africans arrived in Australia knowing a series victory would make them world champions, but they have been consistently second best.

The Aussies wrapped up their latest win with 40 minutes remaining on the fourth day, after knocking off the 10 runs they needed to win for the loss of only Justin Langer.

Langer made seven before mistiming a square drive to Claude Henderson off the bowling of Shaun Pollock.

The wicket proved academic, though, as man-of-the-match Matthew Hayden knocked off the winning runs with a crisp half-volley past mid-off.

Hayden had cracked 138 in Australia's first innings to become the highest scoring Aussie in a calendar year of Test cricket.

Australia set up the victory by dismissing the Proteas for 219 in their second innings.

Only the admirable Jacques Kallis, who was run out for a superb 99, showed any real resistance as Shane Warne spearheaded a bowling attack which looked as formidable as ever, even without the injured Jason Gillespie.

South Africa's second-innings problems began in the morning session when both openers were dismissed by Brett Lee.

Gary Kirsten went first, edging a wide ball to Ricky Ponting at third slip for 10.

Herschelle Gibbs was then out for 21 after getting a bottom edge to an attempted square cut with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist taking a smart low catch.

The wicket of Boeta Dippenaar owed as much to good fortune as it did to good cricket.

Dippenaar, the victim of a stunning Hayden catch in the first innings, clipped a delivery from Warne away on the leg side only for the ball to go straight into the same fielder's midriff at short leg.

Unbelievably, and after much thrashing of arms and elbows, it stuck and Dippenaar departed for 23.

It was in the middle session that Australia turned the screw, taking four wickets for just 61 runs.

First to go after lunch was Neil McKenzie, who had scored 12 when he was caught behind by Gilchrist - opening the face to a well-flighted Warne leg-break.

The hopelessly out of form Lance Klusener avoided a pair following his first-innings duck, but he had made only seven when he was trapped lbw in front of middle stump by Glenn McGrath.

Mark Boucher fell soon after without scoring, the wicketkeeper facing just two deliveries before edging a wide ball from Warne to Mark Waugh at slip.

South Africa skipper Pollock made a rapid 18, including three fours, before he was run out in suicidal fashion.

Non-striker Pollock was called for a quick single by Kallis and was well short of his ground when the ever-alert Damien Martyn broke the stumps with an excellent throw after racing in from cover.

South Africa began the final session of the day on 158 for seven - still needing another 53 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Henderson hung around for a useful 16 before he edged a typically accurate delivery from McGrath to Mark Waugh at second slip.

Allan Donald was undone by a full toss from Andy Bichel that struck the off-stump having added just seven to the total.

Nantie Hayward came to the crease with Kallis determined to retain the strike.

However, on 98 disaster struck for the 26-year-old Kallis when he took on the arm of Martyn attempting to run two.

Martyn picked up and delivered a firm throw which Gilchrist collected well and whipped off the bails with Kallis well short of the crease.

It ended his determined resistance and left the Aussies just minutes away from another famous victory.

The series was billed as the championship of the world of Test cricket, Australia confirming their number one status with the win.

South African captain Shaun Pollock later conceded the mantle of 'best team in the world' to Steve Waugh's Australian eleven.

The third test starts on Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Scores:

Australia 487 and 10-1 beat South Africa 277 and 219.