Robin Peterson dismissed Ponting (8) and skipper Michael Clarke (44) as South Africa finished off the Perth test with a day to spare after battling to salvage draws in the first two tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Australia, set an unlikely target of 632 to win, was out for 322 after a late cameo by No. 10 Mitch Starc, who ended unbeaten on 68 and shared an 87-run last wicket stand with Nathan Lyon (31).

After resuming at 40-0, Australia's day started in the worst possible way when David Warner (29) was removed by Vernon Philander on the second ball without addition to the overnight score.

Morne Morkel removed Shane Watson (25), also caught at slip by Graeme Smith, to bring Ponting to the crease at 11:47 a.m.

South African lined up in a guard of honor as Australia's all-time leading scorer made his way to the pitch, stopping momentarily to shake hands with Proteas captain Graeme Smith, with Australia at 81-2.

The 37-year-old Ponting got off the mark with a trademark pull to the boundary off Morkel and drove another boundary in his only other scoring shot of a 23-ball innings, but was caught by Jacques Kallis trying to cut Peterson at 12:27 p.m. – a few balls before lunch.

Every South African player ran to shake Ponting's hand as the ex-Australia skipper left the WACA arena, where his test career began in 1995. The scoreboard flashed up a message "Thanks Ricky'' and the crowd stood to applaud him. Clarke gave Ponting a pat on the back as they crossed in the tunnel between the pavilion and field, then went out and hit the next two balls from Peterson to the boundary to be not out 8 at the interval.

Clarke and Hussey had put on 228 and 272 in the first two drawn tests and were starting to get settled in during the middle session.

Clarke scored double centuries in the first two matches but when he was out and Hussey went soon after, the end was only a matter of time.

Starc combined with John Hastings (20) in a 31-run ninth-wicket partnership that ensured Australia avoided its second-worst ever defeat in terms of runs – a 408-run loss to the West Indies in 1980 – and his entertaining last wicket stand with Lyon that only delayed the inevitable.

Ponting announced on the eve of the series-deciding test against South Africa that it would be his last international match, and his departure overshadowed the early stages of the match. He now shares the Australian record of 168 test caps with Steve Waugh.