SOUTH AFRICA hammered Australia by an innings and 80 runs to win their three-match Test series with a game to spare.
The Aussies began day four in Hobart on 121-2 – 120 runs behind – but lost their last eight wickets for a meagre 40 runs in under 20 overs.
Australia’s humiliating defeat leaves Steve Smith’s struggling side close to becoming the first Baggy Greens to be whitewashed on home soil in a Test series.
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The skipper said: “I am embarrassed. We’ve lost five Tests in a row and that’s humiliating.
“We are not being resilient, we are not willing to tough it out and get through tough periods. It is not good enough.”
Smith, who took 40 minutes to score his first runs of the day before eventually getting out for 31, said his teammates were not “digging in” and “having the pride in our wicket”.
He added: “I’m quite sick of saying it.”
South Africa’s Kyle Abbott took 6-77 in the second innings, while Kagiso Rabada claimed 4-34.
After wrapping up a third consecutive series win in Australia – having won by 177 runs in Perth –
skipper Faf du Plessis urged his side to go for the jugular.
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He said: “We’ve got Australia in a position where they’re under pressure and won’t let that go.
“It’s hard enough to get them in this position so we’ll do everything we can to keep them there.
“That’s the mission for us now. We want to do that very badly.”
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