Australia beat South Africa by six wickets in two-day farce

Australia completed a six-wicket victory within two days in the first test against South Africa on Sunday as the Proteas crumbled on a green Gabba wicket that played straight into the home bowlers' hands.

Skittled for 152 on day one, South Africa were routed for 99 shortly after tea on day two, leaving Australia 34 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada claimed four quick wickets to leave Australia 24 for four but Marnus Labuschagne (five not out) and Cameron Green survived to push the hosts over the line on a glorious afternoon.

The highest score in Australia's second innings was in the extras column, with Rabada and Anrich Nortje sending balls over the wicketkeeper to gift the hosts boundaries.

Anrich's final ball went over Green's head for five byes to bring up the winning runs.

Australia captain Pat Cummins took 5-42 in South Africa's second innings and seven wickets for the match, while paceman Mitchell Starc celebrated his 300th test wicket with a trademark inswinging yorker that bowled Rassie van der Dussen for a duck before lunch.

But questions will be asked of a pitch that saw 19 wickets fall on day two, after 15 tumbled on day one.

"The wicket, everyone's probably saying it's probably too much but it just shows the quality of bowlers that are running around out here out here," said spinner Nathan Lyon.

It was only the second test win in Australia in two days, the other nearly a century ago when the hosts beat the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 1930/31 series.

Australia's batsmen handled the conditions marginally better, with Travis Head scoring a swashbuckling 92 before the hosts were bowled out for 218 before lunch, after resuming on 145 for five.

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