South Africa denied Australia a 3-0 series clean sweep with a draw in the rain-disrupted third test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
On the fifth day of the rain-disrupted Test, Australia needed to lose 14 wickets to win, which seemed unlikely. However, the Proteas were able to get through it without much trouble and earn a draw, which was their first in 47 Tests since they played in New Zealand in 2017.
With five overs left, the teams shook hands. South Africa was at 106 for 2, with Sarel Erwee still not out on 42 and Temba Bavuma on 17.
After Josh Hazlewood led the way with four wickets to get the Proteas out for 255, which was 21 runs short of their goal but their highest innings total of a bad series, Australia made them bat again.
“We tried different things, kept putting balls in good areas and hoped the luck would turn,” Australia skipper Pat Cummins said.
“We were up against it, we had 150 overs to take 20 wickets on a good surface.”
In South Africa’s second innings, Australia was only able to get two wickets. Dean Elgar, the captain, and Heinrich Klaasen both failed again.
Elgar was out for 10 when wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught him on the leg side. This was the fourth time he had been out in the series.
Cummins hit him with a rising ball and took advantage of Elgar’s bad technique off his hips to get him out cheaply again.
Elgar had a terrible series, scoring only 56 runs in six innings for an average of 9.33. This makes people wonder if he will still be South Africa’s Test captain in the future.
“Touring Australia is never easy,” Elgar said. “The message to the group yesterday was to fight it out on day five.
“Only three or four guys have played here before, so there are a lot of learnings. It is a tough place to tour, maybe the toughest in the world.
“Test cricket teaches you resilience. When things aren’t on your side, you still have to wake up and try again.”
Usman Khawaja, the opener for Australia, was named man of the match for his unbeaten 195 runs when Australia declared their first innings at 475-4.
David Warner, another opener, was named man of the series because of his 200 in Melbourne.
Photo by EPA/DEAN LEWINS
