CRICKET TEST MATCH: AB de VILLIERS and debutant JP Duminy led South Africa to a historic Test victory over Australia in Perth, as the Proteas made 414 to claim the second-highest successful run chase in history.

De Villiers crafted a careful, unbeaten 106 on the fifth day at the Waca, taking a back-seat to Jacques Kallis (57) in the morning session as the pair posted a 124-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Kallis became Mitchell Johnson's third wicket of the innings and his 11th for the match when he was caught by Mike Hussey with a sharp catch at point, giving the Australians hope of a sensational victory as the Proteas still had 111 runs to make.

But Duminy showed maturity beyond his years, setting aside a first innings failure as he resisted a determined Johnson during the early stages of his knock and combined with de Villiers for a 111-run partnership that took the Proteas to 4 for 414, a six-wicket victory.

With three runs needed to win, Duminy stroked Johnson through covers. The batsmen scuttled through for three runs as Andrew Symonds chased it down, giving the debutant an unbeaten and very memorable 50.

"It's not easy to describe," said man-of-the-match de Villiers after the match, the batsman spending most of the press conference with his head in his hands, mentally and physically drained.

"Things went our way, that's part of the game and I'm just delighted that we came through.

"JP and I got together and we've played cricket together from a very young age, we understand each other's games and it just paid off today," he said.

The result looked particularly unlikely after the second day, when Johnson produced a sensational spell to dismiss five South African wickets for two runs, seeing the Proteas slump from a comfortable 3 for 234 in their first innings to eventually be bowled out for 281.

Johnson's eight for 61, followed by three for 98, in the second innings gave the 27-year-old match figures of 11 for 159, the first 10-wicket haul of his career.

"I really think we had an opportunity to play them out of the game and bat them out of the game with our second innings," said Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. "Whether we weren't good enough, or mentally we weren't in the right place to do that, to occupy the crease and build a really good second innings total, I'm not sure. But 319, as it turned out, was nowhere near enough.

"It is a bit of a worry that we weren't good enough to take 20 wickets in this Test and to only take four in the fourth innings is very disappointing for everybody."

Aside from Johnson, Australia's attack lacked bite. Jason Krejza and Peter Siddle were wicketless at the expense of 102 and 84 runs respectively.

It is the first time Australia have lost the first Test of a series on home soil since they failed against the West Indies in Brisbane during 1988-98. The result will also give the Proteas a sensational chance of becoming the first side since the West Indies in 1992-93 to defeat the Australians at home.

Perth Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA281 (AB de Villiers 63, J Kallis 63; M Johnson 8-61). AUSTRALIA375 (S Katich 83, M Clarke 62, A Symonds 57; M Ntini 4-72) and 319 (B Haddin 94).

South Africa Second Innings

G Smith lbw b Johnson 108

N McKenzie c Haddin b Johnson 10

H Amla c Haddin b Lee 53

J Kallis c Hussey b Johnson 57

AB de Villiers not out 106

J Duminy not out 50

Extras(b13 lb9 w2 nb6) 30

Total4 wkts (119.2 overs) 414

Fall of wickets: 1-19 2-172 3-179 4-303.

Bowling: Lee 27-4-73-1; Johnson 34.2-5-98-3; Siddle 26-2-84-0; Krejza 24-2-102-0; Clarke 8-0-35-0.