The Proteas on Sunday clinched the three-match Test series against Pakistan with a game to spare after winning the second clash at Newlands by nine wickets.
After Dale Steyn (4/85) and Kagiso Rabada (4/61) took four wickets apiece to bowl the visitors out for 294 on Saturday’s third day, the batsmen only needed to come back on Sunday for 41 runs to win.
Dean Elgar had first-innings centurion Faf du Plessis (3*) with him at the crease when he scored an unbeaten 24 to help the team sweep into the Wanderers this Friday with an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The Proteas moved Theunis de Bruyn up the order after opener Aiden Markram injured his thigh ahead of the Joburg contest.
Things went from bad to worse when Hashim Amla retired hurt for 24 after he was hit by a freak Mohammad Abbas ball.
WIN: Du Plessis was Man of the Match. Photo: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
And worst of all, Proteas skipper and man of the match Du Plessis, will miss the final Test after picking up a suspension for a slow over rate.
But Faf was proud of his manne after the win and played down suggestions that things have been too easy for them against Pakistan.
He says: “We played very well.
“There is always something in the wicket here at Newlands and you need to be on form with the bat. We know if we get runs on the board, our bowlers will do the rest.
“I think day one was moving day in terms of the pitch, but it got easier to bat on and yesterday [Saturday] Pakistan were in a good position to bat on and get a 150 lead and then who knows what happens."