South Africa fought hard on the final day to get out of the third test and help Australia from taking a clear series palm. The excursionists were told to carry on after being sailed out for 255 in response to Australia’s 475- 4 in Sydney. But Sarel Erwee’s 42 pretensions from 125 balls helped South Africa to a 106- 2 lead in the stormy match. Australia won the series 2- 0 and a third palm would have guaranteed their place in the World Test Cup final at The Oval in London in June. They’re on top of the table and need only one draw from their four India Test series, which begin on February 9, to qualify for the final. India is the alternate in the table and is also in a strong position to reach the final.
South Africa entered the series against Australia with their own expedients of reaching the final but was heavily outplayed for the importance of the series. They lost the first test in two days in Brisbane and the alternate by one run and 182 runs in Melbourne. And Australia again dominated in the third Test, with centuries from Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith declaring their 475- 4 before losing 49 overs in the first two days. South Africa started the final day 149- 6 after first place fell at the end of the fourth day to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the ultimate finishing 4- 48. But an 85 for the eighth gate between Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, who scored 53 and 47 independently, saved South Africa by making up precious time from the final day. Their aggregate of 255 was the loftiest of the series, but they hardly missed the follow-on target. Captain Dean Elgar started the innings but was sailed out by Cummins just before tea for the fourth time in the series after scoring 10 runs to finish comprising 9.33 over six innings. Still, Erwee battled alongside Heinrich Klaasen, who hit 35 for 61, while Temba Bavuma added an unbeaten 17 for 42 as Australia’s bowlers plodded to break through on slow coliseums and South Africa recorded their first equalizer in 47 games.
