After early weather interruptions disrupted the opening two days of the fixture, South Africa seized total control through skipper Temba Bavuma’s monumental 179 and a record-breaking 183-run eighth-wicket partnership with Simon Harmer (82) that propelled the hosts to a formidable 425/9 declared.
Marco Jansen’s devastating spell of 5/33 then skittled Australia for just 99 in their first innings, forcing the visitors to follow on.
South Africa then enforced the follow-on as Australia lost quick wickets before finishing the penultimate day at 156/4.
Resuming play on the final morning with an innings defeat looming, Australia pinned their hopes on Travis Head.
Head, who played with supreme authority against both pace and spin, went on to score a century, extending his overnight score to a magnificent 121 off 190 deliveries, striking 15 boundaries.
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