KEY POINTS:
As one cricketing empire slumped into the Melbourne turf yesterday, another rose.
Australia's defeat at the MCG - completing their first loss of a home series since the distant summer of 1992-93 - was set in stone by South African captain Graeme Smith, who led the way with
75 to claim his nation's first test-series win on Australian soil.
After the nine-wicket victory, the tourists can snatch the world No 1 ranking from Australia if they sweep the series 3-0 with victory in the Sydney test which starts on Saturday.
Smith rated this feat South Africa's greatest achievement in the 110 years since they played their maiden test, which included 23 years of apartheid-enforced isolation.
"It's got to be the best," he said.
"No disrespect to anything that's gone before us, we're very respectful of the history of our game and all of the people who've had opportunities before us and who never had opportunities.
"But for us, it's got to be the most incredible season South Africa has ever had, given the results that we've got. I don't think anyone would argue with that."
Ponting hoped to hold on to his side's status as the world's top-ranked side in Sydney.
"Right at the moment I think we are still No 1," the Australian captain said.
"They have to beat us in Sydney to take that mantle from us. That's the way that ranking system works.
"But I'm pretty sure if you went and knocked on their door next door, they'd be saying that they are the No 1 team right at the moment."
Set 183 to win and resuming at 30 without loss, the Proteas reached their target one wicket down, 55 minutes after lunch on day five to claim a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Smith hit 10 fours from 94 balls and was out lbw to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz shortly before lunch after a stand of 121 with Neil McKenzie.
McKenzie was 59 not out with Hashim Amla unbeaten on 30.
Paceman Brett Lee, who has been ordered to rest for six weeks after this match because of a stress reaction in his left foot, bravely opened the bowling and took 0-49 from 10 overs.
Lee left the field half an hour before the game ended.
Australia's woes deepened with the news that 12th man Shane Watson will be unable to bowl for six months because of stress fractures in his back. He had been touted as a replacement allrounder for the struggling Andrew Symonds.
Ponting, whose captaincy tactics were questioned during the second test, produced a fine double of 101 and 99 with the bat in Melbourne.
South Africa paceman Dale Steyn took match figures of 10-154.
Steyn, who has claimed 74 wickets this year, took four of the first five wickets to fall on Monday. They included out-of-form pair Matthew Hayden (23) and Symonds (0).
The 102-test career of Hayden, 37, appears almost over.
The Proteas' near-faultless, fourth-innings run pursuit, gave the tourists an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
It capped a remarkable year in which they won 11 of 15 tests, won a series in England, drew in India and did what no other side had done in Australia since Richie Richardson's West Indies in 1992-93.
Smith said the Proteas' aimed to maintain the standards they had set since 2006 and build an era of success, as Australia did after dethroning the West Indies in 1995.
"That's something you've got to give Australia credit for, to perform at that level for a decade or so was incredible," he said. "They had some champion players and they did it.
"For us it's going to be an ongoing challenge to keep achieving these standards we've set ourselves."
- AAP