AUS vs SA: South Africa escapes series whitewash in Sydney after defiant batting performance on final day
The draw in the Pink Test means that South Africa's 47-game streak of producing a result in a Test finally came to a halt.
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The third and final Test between Australia and South Africa fizzled out in a draw despite the best efforts from the home side on the final day of the SCG Test, which was heavily affected by rain. The Protean batters managed to thwart the Aussie bowlers after Pat Cummins enforced the follow-on on the final day. The draw in the Pink Test means that South Africa's 47-game streak of producing a result in a Test finally came to a halt.
The day started with South Africa losing the wicket of Marco Jansen early in the morning session. The home side smelled blood and looked on course for an unlikely victory on the final day, completing a whitewash in the three-match series. However, the Protean tail wagged and wagged for a considerable amount of time as the pair of Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj added 80 runs for the eighth wicket.
The dismissal of Maharaj after his defiant half-century opened the floodgates for the Aussies as they bundled out the visitors for 255 runs. Australian skipper Pat Cummins wasted no time in enforcing the follow-on as the home side had their eyes set on a series whitewash that would seal their spot in the WTC final later this year.
South Africa were dealt a fatal blow after inspirational skipper Dean Elgar was strangled down the leg side for a second time in the match. The hosts could see the opening and were relentless with the Aussie pacers breathing fire down the Protean necks. However, Sarel Erwee and Heinrich Klaasen blunted the Australian attack with their positive attitude. Klaasen's dismissal did cause a bit of panic, but it was a little too late for the visitors as Temba Bavuma ensured that his side were spared the embarrassment of a series whitewash.
Here is how Twitter reacted to South Africa's defiance on the final day of the Test series against Australia:
All over at the SCG as Australia and South Africa share the spoils to draw the third and final Test of the series.#WTC23 | #AUSvSA
โ ICC (@ICC) January 8, 2023
๐ https://t.co/yJR6DiH5jX pic.twitter.com/hFO51iWOYT
Some very nice scenes to end the Test summer #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/WMQkNK7y1m
โ Daniel Brettig ๐ (@danbrettig) January 8, 2023
๐ And just like that, Australia's Test summer is done. ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ฟ๐ฆ
โ ABC SPORT (@abcsport) January 8, 2023
๐ค Australia win the series 2-0, while South Africa have played in their first draw since March 2017 โ 2,111 days ago โ after 46 Tests with a win/loss result.
Wrap: ๐ https://t.co/10ZDcIZenc#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/kCgYtEpLez
"I just said to Patty at the end there, 'sorry mate, I tried everything.' Just one of these days where it wasn't meant to be."
โ 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 8, 2023
- Nathan Lyon to @copes9 about Day 5, and future challenges #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/PjZ2qGl8bh
The Proteas avoid a series whitewash as they draw the third Test against Australia โ
โ SuperSport ๐ (@SuperSportTV) January 8, 2023
Harmer (47 off 165) and Maharaj (53 off 81) produced a rearguard performance with bat on day 5.#AUSvSA scorecard ๐
Final Day 5 attendance updated: 20,470.
โ Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) January 8, 2023
Total for the Test: 122,447.
12,000 more people at this Test than last year's Ashes Test. #AUSvSA
You've really got to hand it to Sydney #AUSvSA https://t.co/ICEOEJvy79
โ Daniel Brettig ๐ (@danbrettig) January 8, 2023
Most consecutive men's Tests without a draw:
โ Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 8, 2023
47 - SA๐ฟ๐ฆ in 2017-23
26 - ZIM๐ฟ๐ผ in 2005-17
23 - AUS๐ฆ๐บ in 1999-01
22 - ENG๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ in 1884-92
22 - AUS๐ฆ๐บ in 2001-03
22 - PAK๐ต๐ฐ in 2015-18
Record streak ends. First draw for SA since Hamilton 2017 (both had washed out day due to rain)#AUSvSA
๐จ RESULT | MATCH DRAWN
โ Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 8, 2023
The final Test match of the #AUSvSA series ends in a draw ๐ค
Congratulations Australia on your series victory โ๏ธ#BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/x4qtLl8dw7
To be honest - Usman is saying the right things here but as a cricket fan ffs - 10-15mins max out of a dead rubber game in a totally one-sided series wouldnโt have meant shit. He should be sitting with a double ton next to his name no doubt about it #Robbed #AUSvRSA https://t.co/2mA5GqGBMx
โ Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) January 8, 2023
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