Duanne Olivier took four wickets as Australia accepted the challenge of the chase, beating South Africa A by five wickets in Benoni.
The Australians had been left with a victory target of 140 off 35 overs, at four an over, after a fighting rearguard stand by Shaun von Berg and Malusi Siboto which took the South Africans to 248 in the second innings.
The Australians were keen to impress, and Olivier was the beneficiary, although it came at a cost of almost six an over. Steve Smith was particularly brutal, slamming 25 off 13 balls, with three fours and two sixes. Shaun Marsh was unbeaten on 39 from 46.
Mitchell Starc had warmed up for the first Test, starting on March 1 in Durban, by snapping up 4-46 earlier in the day, which had the hosts reeling at 167-7, a lead of 58.
But any hopes of an early finish were dashed by the eighth-wicket stand of 81. Von Berg led the way with an aggressive 52 off 43 balls, which included taking 22 runs off one Nathan Lyon over, with five fours. Siboto provided admirable support with 32 off 33.
Earlier, Starc came out firing on the morning of the third and final day, when Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza were making a determined stand after starting 109 behind on the first inning.
They resumed on 55-0, but it did not take long for Starc to break through, having Malan caught in the slips for 34 in the fourth over of the day. Then followed Theunis de Bruyn, caught and bowled for 5, Khaya Zondo bowled for 27 and Senuran Muthusamy caught in the slips for 34. In between Josh Hazlewood sent back Hamza for 28.
Mitchell Marsh and Smith finally worked their way through the tail once Lyon had dismissed Von Berg.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
