Australia’s hopes of giving a winning farewell to Ricky Ponting were dashed on Monday with South Africa winning the third and decisive Test in Perth by 309 runs to hold on to their top spot in Tests.

Set a mammoth target of 632 runs to win, Australia lost their first wicket on the second ball of the fourth day, before eventually being dismissed for 322 as the Proteas sealed the three-Test series 1-0. The first two Tests both ended in a draw.

Graeme Smith’s South Africans became the first team in two decades to defeat Australia on home soil on consecutive tours, with the West Indies the only other team to achieve it, way back in 1992-93.

The South Africans also earned high praise at the start of the day’s play, lining up for a highly unusual guard of honour as Ponting, 37, Test cricket’s second highest run-scorer, emerged for his final innings in international cricket.

“I was a little bit embarrassed and wish it didn’t happen that way, but it was an amazing gesture by Graeme and the South African team,” Ponting admitted after the match.

In their 200th Test since being allowed back into international cricket, South Africa were only delayed en route to their biggest ever victory in a match decided in the fourth innings by a defiant 87-run last-wicket stand.

Number 10 Mitchell Starc smashed an unbeaten 68 off 43 balls to share the highest-ever last wicket partnership at Perth’s WACA Ground with Nathan Lyon, who made 31 off 43 balls.

South Africa’s win also extended their away record. They have not been defeated in an away series since losing 2-0 in Sri Lanka in 2006. They have lost none of their three Tests at the WACA, with two wins and a draw.

The Australians came into the match as the better side after the first two drawn Tests, but were never effectively in the hunt after a poor effort on the second day, disappointing with both bat and ball.

Australia never looked to win the match after David Warner (29) fell to Vernon Philander (2-41) in the first over of the day. In his 168th Test, Ponting came to the crease at 81 for two, but the fairytale ending did not materialise and he scored just eight runs.

The former captain got off the mark with a trademark pull shot for four off Morne Morkel from the sixth ball he faced. However, he lasted only 23 deliveries and 40 minutes before falling in unlikely fashion to spinner Robin Peterson, just minutes before lunch, caught at first slip by Jacques Kallis attempting to force Peterson off the back foot.

“I’ve been lucky to play as many Tests as I have and cherished every moment, it was always going to end at some stage I guess,” Ponting

He stopped at the boundary on his walk back to the pavilion, raising his bat to acknowledge the crowd while the Proteas halted their celebrations to offer more applause. He finished his career with 13,378 Test runs at 51.85, including 41 centuries, but with just 32 runs in his last series at 6.40.

Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey briefly steadied the Australian ship with a 58-run stand for the fifth wicket before both fell in quick succession just before tea. Clarke was stumped off Robin Peterson (3-127) for 44 while Hussey became the 13th Australian to pass 6,000 Test runs before being caught behind for 26 off Dale Steyn (3-72).

The result means South Africa have retained the top spot in the ICC Test rankings, leading second-ranked England by six ratings points. Australia are still third but dropped to 114 points.

Australia will move ahead of England if India win the remaining two Tests in Kolkata and Nagpur, while India will also jump ahead of England, by 0.01 point. However, if England wins the remaining two Tests, it will rise to 119 ratings points and India will drop to 103 points. In case of a drawn series, England will drop two points which India will gain.