Australia have fallen brief of their bid to tug off a clear sweep of South Africa, with the Proteas hanging on to attract the rain-soaked third Test on the SCG.
Bowled out for 255 of their first innings and requested to observe on, South Africa survived 41.5 overs to be 2-106 when the sport was referred to as with 5.1 overs left.
But the ultimate session was not with out controversy, with Heinrich Klaasen surviving an lbw choice on umpire’s name and a claimed catch at slip in the identical Nathan Lyon over.
After Steve Smith appealed that had taken the catch cleanly, third umpire Richard Kettleborough dominated for the third time within the match the ball brushed the grass on reaching a fielder.
Klaasen was later bowled by Josh Hazlewood on 35, earlier than Sarel Erwee (42) and Temba Bavuma (17) carried South Africa to the shut unbeaten.
The end result left Australia as 2-0 sequence victors, however with out assured qualification within the World Test Championship closing forward of subsequent month’s tour of India.
There, they might want to win or draw one of many 4 Tests as a way to attain the ultimate, or hope New Zealand don’t lose each their house Tests towards Sri Lanka in March.
Australia had entered day 5 needing 14 wickets to win, earlier than the Proteas produced their first actual resistance of the summer season following defeats in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Lower-order batters Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj provided probably the most battle, as they helped the vacationers navigate by way of the primary session of Sunday for the lack of one wicket.
And whereas Hazlewood (4-48) eliminated them each after lunch, South Africa’s top-order carried out a lot stronger of their second innings.
Pat Cummins briefly opened the door when Dean Elgar was caught behind down legside for the fourth time this sequence on 10, capping a horror tour as captain.
But other than when Hazlewood eliminated Klaasen after tea, the vacationers have been resolute in defence.
Australia had three lbw critiques go towards them on the idea of umpire’s name on the ultimate day, but additionally had themselves guilty.
Four probabilities have been put down, with Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Travis Head and Ashton Agar dropping catches.
Also notable was that Ashton Agar went wicketless in his return Test, after selectors opted to select him as a second spinner forward of Scott Boland as third fast.
Sydney’s rain additionally harm Agar, with the pitch not breaking apart as Australia anticipated.
Ultimately, the climate meant Australia’s first-innings 4-475 went to waste, after Cummins declared on Usman Khawaja halfway by way of day 4 on 195 not out.
