Twitter Reactions: Vernon Philander wreaks havoc as South Africa crush Australia by 492 runs

South Africa have thrashed Australia by a huge 512 runs in the fourth and final Test match and have won the series by 3-1. It was a fitting by farewell for Morne Morkel who was playing the last match of his international career. Though it was Vernon Philander who wreaked havoc in the Aussie camp who collapsed like a pack of cards. However, the writing was on the wall for them on the fourth day itself and it was only a matter of time when they were going to concede the series.

The overnight duo of Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb strode out to the middle in the morning with an aim to draw the game amidst the chances of rain later in the day. But Philander crushed all their dreams by scalping the former off the very first ball of the day. In the same over, Mitchell Marsh edged one behind only to put his team in more trouble.

Philander continues to torment the batsmen

There was no respite for the visitors as Peter Handscomb played on the ball onto his stumps on 24 even as the skipper Tim Paine also couldn’t put up a fighting show for his team. Philander completed his five-wicket haul by disturbing the furniture of Pat Cummins and then went on to bag the wicket of Chadd Sayers off the very next delivery as well.

Though Josh Hazlewood denied him the hat-trick as it would’ve been only fitting for Morne Morkel to take the final wicket of the innings to seal the series victory for his South Africa. But it was not to be as Nathan Lyon was run-out. The sparse crowd erupted as soon as the wicket was fallen as they also realised that it was the last time they were watching Morkel for the last time on the field. There were some emotions on display in the middle as Twitterati bid adieu to the great cricketer who was always there for his team.

Australia lost their last 7 wickets after adding only 31 runs as Twitter also trolled them hilariously. Also, this Test match marks the end of Darren Lehmann’s tenure as the head coach of the Australian team.

Here’s how Twitterati reacted: