MELBOURNE, Dec 30: Australia wrapped up a 184-run victory in the second Test against South Africa on Friday when leg spinner Stuart MacGill dismissed last man Makhaya Ntini in the first over after lunch on the final day.

Dismissed for 181 in pursuit of an improbable winning target of 366, South Africa’s Shaun Pollock put up stubborn resistance to stall Australia’s charge and the all rounder finished unbeaten on 67.

The win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and any chance the tourists had of saving the Test were dashed on Thursday afternoon when they were reduced to 99-6 by the close of play.

Mike Hussey was named Man-of-the-Match after he scored 122 in Australia’s first innings and combined with Glenn McGrath in an 107-run 10th wicket partnership that pushed the world champions to 355 in their first innings.

South Africa made a cautious start to their second innings and after reaching 39 without loss, the tourists lost six wickets for 43 runs to leave themselves an almost impossible task of surviving the entire final day with just four wickets intact.

However, the home side’s hopes of wrapping up the win before the interval on Friday were thwarted by Pollock, who combined aggression with intelligent stroke play to reach the lunch break on 66 not out, with his side on 180-9.

Leading the attack, Shane Warne had figures of 4-74 and McGrath 3-44 as the pair combined to take the three wickets to fall in the morning.

Ashwell Prince, who had resumed on 16, was the junior partner in a 48-run partnership with Pollock before he was adjudged to have been caught by Matthew Hayden off Warne for 26.

Television replays, however, appeared to show the ball had bounced off his arm and was nowhere near his glove or bat when it ballooned away in front of Hayden who had to dive to catch it.

Nicky Boje also did his best to ensure the game did not end early on Friday with a watchful 13 off 38 balls before he played back to a McGrath delivery and chopped the ball onto his stumps to leave the visitors 166 for eight.

Andre Nel was the next man to go when he chased a wide delivery from McGrath and edged an easy catch to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for two.

Meanwhile, opening batsman Justin Langer has been included in the Australian team for the third cricket Test against South Africa, which begins Monday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Langer, who is lining up for his 97th Test appearance, will play subject to a fitness test, selectors said Friday.

Aside from Langer’s inclusion, Australia retained the same squad for the third Test.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Nathan Bracken, Phil Jaques (on standby for Langer).

Scoreboard

Australia (1st innings 355)

South Africa (1st innings 311)

Australia (2nd innings 321 for 7 decl)

South Africa (2nd innings) (Overnight: 99-6; Target: 366 runs)

G. Smith c Gilchrist b McGrath 25

A. de Villiers st Gilchrist b Warne 8

H. Gibbs b Warne 9

J. Kallis c Gilchrist b Symonds 9

A. Prince c Hayden b Warne 26

J. Rudolph b Symonds 4

M. Boucher c Ponting b Warne 5

S. Pollock not out 67

N. Boje b McGrath 13

A. Nel c Gilchrist b McGrath 2

M. Ntini b MacGill 2

Extras (lb-6 nb-4 w-1) 11

Total (all out, 74 overs) 181

Fall of wkts: 1-39 2-45 3-58 4-64 5-72 6-82 7-130 8-166 9-178 10-181

Bowling: G. McGrath 15-3-44-3 B. Lee 11-4-23-0 (nb-1) S. Warne 28-7-74-4 (nb-3 w-1) A. Symonds 4-2-6-2 S. MacGill 16-7-28-1.

—Reuters