The Proteas managed to bat out the closing day to earn a rain-assisted draw towards Australia in the third Test of the sequence in Sydney.
Australia had received each the previous Tests and have been on high for a lot of this New Year’s Test.
Proteas grit out a draw
Pat Cummins declaration robbed Usman Khawaja of a double ton, however Australia nonetheless didn’t have the time to bowl South Africa out twice.
The cussed resistance of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer couldn’t get South Africa past the follow-on goal however consumed sufficient time to show the tide.
Harmer would bat 217 minutes for his 47 as he additionally shared an 85-rin partnership with Maharaj which took South Africa to the brink of avoiding the follow-on.
In the follow-on the Proteas high order was resilient they usually didn’t appear to be caving in as the closing day wore on, led by an unbeaten 42 from Sarel Erwee.
Happy with the fight
Skipper Dean Elgar was happy to see the workforce present some fight and save the closing Test.
He would additionally acknowledge his personal run drought.
“It’s good to end the tour like this. Touring Australia is never easy,” Elgar mentioned in keeping with ESPN Cricinfo.
“But clearly the message to the group final night time was we now have acquired to exit and fight on day 5 and I believe it’s going to assist us in the future.
“It’s going to guide us down the proper highway. If you consider it, there’s solely three or 4 guys which have toured right here in the previous. The relaxation was all model new experiences.
“I believe the learnings from that’s these guys is likely to be taking part in right here once more in a few years time and clearly there are numerous learnings out of that.
“But Australia is a tricky place to tour if not the hardest in the world. There’s a number of negatives but additionally numerous positives particularly out of at the moment.
“I know I’m the captain but I’m also a runscorer and I know that hasn’t worked out of late but I know I’ll be back. I don’t go lying down. I know my character and I know I’ll come out stronger.”
Australia vs Proteas scorecard
The scoreboard at the shut on the closing day of the third Test towards Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday:
Australia 1st innings 475-4 declared (U. Khawaja not out 195, S. Smith 104; A. Nortje 2-55)
South Africa 1st innings (in a single day 149-6)
D. Elgar c Carey b Hazlewood 15
S. Erwee b Lyon 18
H. Klaasen c Carey b Cummins 2
T. Bavuma c Carey b Hazlewood 35
Ok. Zondo lbw b Cummins 39
Ok. Verreynne c Smith b Cummins 19
M. Jansen c Carey b Head 11
S. Harmer b Hazlewood 47
Ok. Maharaj lbw b Hazlewood 53
Ok. Rabada c and b Lyon 3
A. Nortje not out 0
Extras (b2, lb1, nb5, pen5) 13
Total (all out, 108 overs) 255
Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Elgar), 2-37 (Erwee), 3-37 (Klaasen), 4-85 (Bavuma), 5-130 (Zondo), 6-137 (Verreynne), 7-167 (Jansen), 8-252 (Maharaj), 9-255 (Harmer), 10-255(Rabada)
Bowling: Hazlewood 23-7-48-4 (2nb), Cummins 23-7-60-3 (2nb), Lyon 40-16-88-2, Agar 14-3-30-0 (1nb), Head 7-1-21-1, Smith 1-1-0-0
South Africa 2nd innings (following on)
S. Erwee not out 42
D. Elgar c Carey b Cummins 10
H. Klaasen b Hazlewood 35
T. Bavuma not out 17
Extras (nb2) 2
Total (2 wickets, 41.5 overs) 106
Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Elgar), 2-75 (Klaasen)
Bowling: Hazlewood 5-2-9-1, Agar 8-2-28-0, Cummins 8-1-16-1, Lyon 15-5-32-0, Head 2-0-4-0, Smith 1-0-8-0, Labuschagne 2.5-1-9-0 (2nb)
Man of the match: Usman Khawaja (AUS)
Man of the sequence: David Warner (AUS)
Result: Match drawn
Series: Australia win 2-0
Toss: Australia
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
