The Proteas at least spared themselves the last innings of smart comments about their abilities as they earned a draw in the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
After losing the series 2-0, South Africa had to bat on the final day with 14 wickets in hand. Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj showed some strong resistance in the lower order as the Proteas made 255 in the first innings.
It was just 21 runs shy of avoiding a follow-on, but that didn’t mean there were only 47 overs left for them to survive the final day’s play, and they comfortably batted themselves to safety at 106/2.
Captain Dean Elgar’s torrid tour continued when he was again caught on the leg side, sparring on the lifter, from opposite number Pat Cummins, after struggling to 10.
But his opening partner, Sarel Erwee, looked solid, and Heinrich Klaasen, in the unaccustomed position of No.3, bathed with much more positivity than in the first innings when they added 48 for the second wicket.
Klaasen eventually made 35 when Josh Hazlewood, back from injury, slotted a brilliant swinger through the defence.
But Erwee struggled to 42 not out in 125 balls at the crease, Temba Bavuma with him on 17 not out when the captain agreed to call for a draw with five overs remaining.
Spirit is still lawful
Earlier, the efforts of Harmer and Maharaj, adding 85 for the eighth wicket either side of lunch showed that the fighting spirit of the Proteas side is probably still halal.
Harmer was well equipped to stay at the crease for a long time, deserving of praise for a defiant 47 in three and a half hours, while Maharaj did his best to see South Africa through the scoreline with a score of 53 off 81 balls. He entered first, and then encouraged the attacking game when he struck six fours and sixes, very impressive.
South Africa had started the final day on 149/6 and Marco Jansen continued to stay tenacious at the crease, batting for over an hour and a half to score 11 off 78 balls before edging part-time off-spinner Travis Head to the wicketkeeper.
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Hazlewood finally broke South Africa’s resistance with a superb performance after lunch. Using reverse swing, he trapped Maharaj lbw and then bowled Harmer from the inside-edge, to finish with 4/48 in 23 overs.
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