South Africans crash to innings defeat

Western Australia 8 for 391 dec beat South Africans 179 and 164 (Casson 4-67) by an innings and 48 runs
Scorecard

Beau Casson takes the plaudits as another South African departs © Getty Images

Beau Casson's second four-wicket haul of the match helped to consign the South Africans to a humiliating innings defeat in their tour opener at the WACA against a Western Australian side who came into this match with four defeats in four outings so far this season.

Needing to offer more of a show than they did yesterday, the South Africans, who resumed on 2 for 25, lost seven wickets for 139 on a pitch that was far from unfriendly. Ashwell Prince was the only batsman to offer resistance, making 49, and it was only thanks to some late-order defiance from Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje that they avoided an even heavier defeat. After yesterday's poor display, Micky Arthur, South Africa's coach, promised more fight. His message clearly didn't register where it mattered.

Although Prince was the top scorer, he was put down at point off Steve Magoffin while on 1 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 for 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 8. That left the Proteas struggling at 4 for 67 but worse was to follow when stand-in captain Mark Boucher was caught by Justin Langer at first slip, again off the bowling of Casson.

At lunch, the South Africans were 5 for 120, but they lasted less than an hour into the afternoon session. Pollock, who made 25, became Langer's second slip catch of the day before Makhaya Ntini completed his pair when he was trapped lbw after a Casson delivery nipped back from off stump. Andre Nel added just 3.

Graeme Smith, who missed the match because of injury, played down the defeat. "We expected it in some ways coming out of India and travelling straight here and having a day before the game," he said. "We didn't expect to be at a level where we thought we would compete, but obviously we played even below that. But I don't think it's a concern, we've just got some hard work to do going into the first Test, we've got enough time and we'll do it."