Stoic defence sees Proteas draw third Test Down Under
- Doug Mattushek
- 8 January 2023
South Africa managed to hold off the Australian bowling attack to draw the third and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
After being forced to follow on, Sarel Erwee and Temba Bavuma would be left at the crease with 106/2 on the board in their second innings, pursuing Australia's 475/4.
The day began with the Baggy Greens needing an unlikely 14 wickets to secure a clean sweep of the series. Travis Head got the hosts off to a good start by knicking off Marco Jansen for his 78-ball 11.
That brought Simon Harmer to the crease, standing opposite his fellow tweaker Keshav Maharaj. The spin twins showed stoic defence with the willow, frustrating the Australian quicks and spinners alike. The duo would combine for an impressive 80-run partnership - but more importantly sucking up 161 deliveries - before Maharaj fell for a well-played 53.
That triggered a rush of wickets as the Proteas were bowled out for 255, their highest total of the series. A returning Josh Hazelwood impressed with figures of 4/48. Nonetheless, South Africa were 24 runs short of the follow-on, so out trundled embattled captain Dean Elgar and Erwee.
The imperious Pat Cummins dismissed a jittery Elgar for 10, who gloved one down the leg-side for Alex Carey to scoop up. The dismissal brought and end to a difficult series for the left-hander, who managed to record just 53 runs.
In walked Heinrich Klaasen, promoted up the order to number three. The wicketkeeper survived a string of chances produced by Nathan Lyon, who had an lbw review go against him, then an edge to Steven Smith was deemed to have touched the ground.
Josh Hazelwood provided Lyon some reprieve though, with a superlative reverse swinger that upended Klassen, who had looked positive for his 35.
Erwee (42*) and Bavuma (17*) then soaked up the final onslaught to finish a disappointing series on a somewhat positive note.
