PERTH, Australia (AFP) — South Africa thrashed Australia by 309 runs in the third Test yesterday to hold on to their number one Test ranking and ruin an emotional farewell for veteran batsman Ricky Ponting.

Set a mammoth target of 632 runs to win, Australia lost their first wicket on the second ball of the fourth day and they were eventually dismissed for 322 as the Proteas sealed the three-Test series 1-0.

Graeme Smith’s South Africans became the first team in two decades to defeat Australia on home soil in consecutive tours, with the West Indies the previous team to achieve it in 1992-93.

Smith said winning two series in Australia in a row was his finest moment in cricket: “It has been a tremendous effort,” he said. “I’m extremely humbled… for us it means the world, there are people in our set-up who have taken many beatings on tours of Australia.”

The South Africans achieved it with sporting good grace after forming a highly unusual honour guard for Ponting, 37, Test cricket’s second highest run-scorer, as he emerged for his final innings.

“I was a little bit embarrassed and wish it didn’t happen that way, but it was an amazing gesture by Graeme and the South African team,” Ponting said.