South Africa crashed to an innings defeat in their opening tour match against Western Australia on Wednesday after losing eight wickets for 139 runs on the third and final day.
The tourists had been forced to follow-on after making just 179 in their first innings in reply to Western Australia’s 391 for 8 declared.
And any hopes they had of salvaging something from the match disappeared when, after resuming on Wednesday at 25 for 2, their batting again collapsed on a relatively sedate wicket.
Ashwell Prince was the only batsman to offer resistance, making 49 as the Proteas capitulated for 164 in their second innings — still 48 runs short of the Western Australian first-innings total.
It was a poor start for the South Africans, who are building up to a three-Test series starting here on December 16.
However, they started without regular captain Graeme Smith who has a finger injury and vice-captain Jacques Kallis, who has damaged tendons in his left elbow.
There was further bad news when Charl Langeveldt did not bat in the second innings. A team spokesperson said he was suffering a chest infection.
Despite promises from coach Mickey Arthur that they would be a different team on Wednesday, South Africa again wilted against a Western Australian attack which has struggled in the domestic competition this season.
Although Prince was the top scorer, he had been put down at point off paceman Steve Magoffin while on one and with the score at 37.
Just two runs later Western Australia got the early breakthrough when opener Jacques Rudolph, who is pushing for a berth in the opening Test, was caught on 18 after hooking a Ben Edmondson delivery.
Wrist-spinner Beau Casson, who took four wickets in the first innings, struck next for the hosts when he had Justin Kemp caught at long-on for eight.
That left the Proteas struggling at 67 for 4 but worse was to follow when stand-in captain Mark Boucher was caught by Test opener Justin Langer at first slip — again off the bowling of Casson.
At lunch South Africa were 120 for 5 but they lasted less than an hour after the restart.
Shaun Pollock was the first to fall for 25 after being caught at slip by Langer.
Makhaya Ntini collected a pair for the match when he was again given lbw after a Casson delivery nipped back from off-stump. Andre Nel added just three. – Sapa-AFP