Durban, March 10:

Australia clinched the Test series against South Africa when they won the second Test by 175 runs at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

The hosts were bowled out for 370 in their second innings on the final day. The series win enabled Australia to bounce back after losing a home series against the same opponents earlier in the season.

The victory was virtually sealed when the tourists dismissed overnight batsmen Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers inside the first hour. South Africa lost another two wickets before lunch. Although Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel resisted for 79 minutes after the break, the end came quickly after Boucher gave a return catch to Marcus North.

A win for Australia clinched the three-match series after they won the first Test by 162 runs.

Kallis and De Villiers made their third wicket stand worth 187 before Kallis was caught at second slip off Mitchell Johnson for 93. Kallis added just five runs after being dropped by Michael Clarke at point off Ben Hilfenhaus.

Three overs later De Villiers was caught behind in Peter Siddle’s first over of the day for 84. Duminy and Boucher resisted for an hour until Duminy was caught behind for 17.

Paul Harris was caught at deep midwicket off Simon Katich, who went on to take two more wickets and finish with figures of 3-45. Australia took the new ball which was due when South Africa resumed at 244-2 at the start of the day.

Hughes hailed

Melbourne: Australian newspapers hailed Phil Hughes as possibly the most exciting batsman in a decade after the 20-year-old became the youngest player in history to hit two centuries in a single Test.

Hughes’ feat against South Africa was a boost for an Australian team rebuilding after the retirement of greats such as Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, commentators said.

“Boy from the backblocks revives a team’s spirits,” the Melbourne Age said. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said comparisons with Bradman were premature but declared him “on track” to cement his place in the Australian line-up. — AFP