Innings win for dominant Proteas

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South Africa once again exhibited their ruthless streak by wrapping up an innings-and-18-run third-Test victory over Pakistan inside three days at Centurion.

With the series already in the bag prior to this game, Graeme Smith’s men cemented top spot in the International Cricket Council Test rankings with another comprehensive win.

Dale Steyn celebrates his fourth wicket in Pakistan's second innings, which came to an end at 235 to give South Africa an innings win

Pakistan resumed on 14 for one in their second innings, requiring a further 239 to make South Africa bat again.

That was never likely after they slumped to 114 for six and some subsequent lower-order resistance proved little more than a minor annoyance to the Proteas, for whom Dale Steyn returned 4-80.

Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 235, allowing South Africa to celebrate a clean sweep of summer Test triumphs following their 3-0 thrashing of New Zealand.

Steyn got the ball rolling today with a wonderful outswinger that Younus Khan did well to edge to Smith at first slip.

Azhar Ali and Imran Farhat shared 54, but the former was then run out by Steyn’s strong throw from fine-leg and Farhat edged Kyle Abbott through to AB de Villiers to fall for 43, his team’s highest score in the match.

When captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq departed to Rory Kleinveldt in successive overs, Pakistan had lost three for seven and were staring defeat in the face.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Saeed Ajmal contributed 40 and 31 respectively, but both then fell to Steyn and Rahat Ali’s breezy 22 merely delayed the inevitable.