The moustachioed fast bowler terrorised the Proteas on day four, taking five wickets (5-59), and bringing his match figures to a mighty 12 for 127, the second-best figures ever by an Australian against South Africa, who were 200 all out.

Australia had set South Africa an unlikely target of 482 after adding two extras to the overnight total of 288 before declaring, but the match looked a foregone conclusion as the hosts lost early wickets – opener Alviro Petersen for 1, caught behind in the second over. Graeme Smith fell soon after and Johnson’s second wicket inside four overs.

He had to wait until just before tea for his third wicket of the day, this time dismissing JP Duminy.

The man of the series as Australia won the Ashes 5-0 also claimed the wickets of Ryan McLaren and AB de Villiers, who was SA’s top scorer with 48 runs.

Fellow fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris took two wickets each.

“You never play a perfect game but it felt really good out there,” Johnson said.

“We were outplayed from the word go,” admitted South Africa captain Graeme Smith. “It is one of the most disappointing four days we’ve had for a long time.”

The second Test of the three-match series starts on Thursday.

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