South Africa dug deep and denied Australia a 3-0 series sweep with a battling draw in the rain-disrupted third test in Sydney, finally finding some fight on the final day of a miserable tour.
Dean Elgar. Photo: Photosport
The hosts, who declared on 475-4 on day four to try and force a result, dismissed South Africa for 255 in their first innings after lunch on the final day to enforce the follow on, but came up short in their bid to bowl out the tourists again.
Sarel Erwee and Temba Bavuma guided the Proteas to stumps on 106 for two, enabling South Africa to take something out of the series after being thoroughly outclassed in the first two matches in Brisbane and Melbourne.
It was the first draw in 47 tests for South Africa going back to a match against New Zealand in Hamilton in March 2017.
Australia will still take huge confidence out of a dominant home summer in which they also beat West Indies 2-0 before putting South Africa to the sword.
"I think 14 wickets in a day is always hard work, especially as the wicket wasn't breaking up as we would have liked it to," said Australia captain Pat Cummins. "I still came to the ground today full of confidence, but it wasn't to be."
Australia's hopes of sweeping both series and securing a place in June's World Test Championship final were dashed in the main by the Sydney weather that took the best part of two days out of the final test.
Tailenders Simon Harmer (47) and Keshav Maharaj (53) played a big part too under sunny skies on Sunday, with a partnership of 85 for the eighth wicket, which extended South Africa's first innings well into the afternoon.
Paceman Josh Hazlewood (4-48) removed them both in a dazzling post-lunch spell and Nathan Lyon sent back Kagiso Rabada with a diving catch from his own bowling to bring an end to the innings and give Australia a first innings lead of 220.
ELGAR FAIL
Dean Elgar, the first captain to lead South Africa to defeat in Australia since Graeme Smith in 2005-06, opened the second innings but was soon dismissed to continue his terrible run of form.
Edging behind to fall to his Australian counterpart Cummins for the fourth time in the series, he scored 10 runs and took his series tally to a paltry 56 from six innings at an average of 9.33.
After that breakthrough, Cummins and Hazlewood kept pounding in, but spinners Lyon and Ashton Agar at the other end had little to work with from a pitch that had not had enough traffic to deteriorate as much as they would have liked.
Lyon thought he had dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, caught by Steve Smith in the slips for 28, but for the third time in the match the third umpire ruled the ball had grazed the grass between the fielder's fingers.
Hazlewood clean-bowled Klaasen for 35 a couple of overs later with a peach of a delivery, but opener Erwee, who scored 42 not out, and Bavuma, unbeaten on 17, successfully fought the rearguard action until Cummins conceded the draw.
"We said last night we could just lay down and let Aussie roll us and create a bit more embarrassment or go out and fight out day five," Elgar said. "It's great to see how the guys responded to that." Australia are still strong favourites to clinch a spot in WTC final ahead of their four-test tour of India in February and March, while South Africa retain a mathematical chance as they head home to face West Indies in a two-match series.
David Warner was named Player of the Series after scoring a double century in Melbourne, a feat his fellow opener Usman Khawaja was deprived of matching by Australia's declaration with him on 195 not out on Saturday.
"I would love to have a double ton next to my name, but at the end of the day it's a great way to showcase cricket and what cricket stands for," Khawaja said.
-Reuters
