The Hosts wrapped up the Proteas on 204 runs in the second innings to win the MCG test match

In the Boxing day test match, Australia defeated South Africa and took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match test series by winning the Melbourne Test as well. The South African team, which piled on 189 runs in the first innings, could not do anything special in the second innings as well and they were reduced to just 204 runs. The Hosts won the Melbourne Test by an innings and 182 runs. Earlier, the Aussies had also won a resounding victory in the Brisbane Test by 6 wickets. In the second innings, the veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon took the most three wickets for his side.

Following this victory, the chances of the Proteas to make it into the final of the Test Championship are almost over. Australia currently stands on the top of the points table with 78.00 points and South Africa slips to fourth place after losing the MCG test. The Proteas have 50 points on the points table whereas this victory from Australia over South Africa creates more chances of India versus Australia final in the Test Championship in 2023. Team India currently has 58.93 points in the points tally and stands in 2nd position.

After winning in Brisbane, Australia won the toss in Melbourne and decided to bowl first. South Africa had a bad start and half the team returned to the pavilion at a score of 67. After this, Marco Jansen and Kyle Verreynne managed to score half-centuries, but after the dismissal of both, the team shattered like a pack of cards and collapsed for 189 runs. Cameron Green took 5 wickets while Mitchell Starc took 2 wickets for Australia. 

Australia made a great start in reply to 189 runs, after the early dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner and Steve Smith took over the innings and shared a 239-run partnership. Smith missed the century, but Warner's double century gave indications of coming in root form. After Warner, thanks to Australia’s wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey's century and Cameron Green, Travis Head's half-century innings. Australia declared the first innings on 575 runs. 

After trailing by 386 runs, the start of South Africa's second innings was also not good and captain Dean Elgar was dismissed without opening the account in the second over itself. Apart from Temba Bavuma's 68 runs, no batter could even cross the figure of fifty and the whole team got collapsed on 204 runs. With that note, Australia has also captured the series by winning by an innings and 186 runs. The third test match will start on January 04 between the two sides.