The Proteas dismissed the tourists for 295 in their second innings at St George’s Park on Thursday, completing a remarkable turnaround after their 214-run defeat in Durban.

Kagiso Rabada claimed 4-77, Wiaan Mulder took 3-64 and Simon Harmer chipped in with 2-93 as Australia failed to make South Africa bat again.

Marco Jansen completed the victory when Josh Hazlewood was caught by Aiden Markram for a duck, leaving Alex Carey stranded on 37.

Australia had threatened to frustrate the hosts through Travis Head, who struck 121 off 190 balls, including 15 fours.

Nightwatchman Scott Boland also proved difficult to dislodge, occupying the crease for 166 deliveries in making a career-best 40 before Mulder bowled him.

Rabada removed Steve Smith for three and Mitchell Starc for 11, while Mulder also accounted for Australia captain Pat Cummins as South Africa closed in on victory.

The result was built on Temba Bavuma’s career-best 179, which rescued the Proteas from 110-6 in their first innings.

The captain shared a 132-run seventh-wicket partnership with Jansen, who struck 85, before adding 183 for the eighth wicket with Harmer, whose 82 helped South Africa declare on 425-9.

Jansen then ripped through Australia’s first innings with figures of 5-33 as the visitors were bundled out for just 99 and forced to follow on.

The emphatic victory sets up a series decider at Newlands in Cape Town, starting on Tuesday, 27 October.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images