Australia leave it late

7 January 2009

Peter Siddle claimed three second-innings wickets to finish with eight in the match

Australia salvaged a consolation 103-run win in the final Test of the series by bowling South Africa out with just 10 balls remaining on the last day at the SCG.

South Africa entered day five needing a further 314 to pull off an unlikely victory - and a series clean sweep - having reached 62 for one at stumps yesterday.

But they were dismissed for 272 just moments before the scheduled close of play, securing a morale-boosting win for Australia after defeat in the opening two Tests.

Any hope of success for the tourists disappeared when they lost Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, whose 59 represented the highest score of the innings, in the morning session.

JP Duminy, Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers, who made 56, succumbed after lunch as Australia strengthened their grip.

Paul Harris was lbw to Peter Siddle in the sixth over after the resumption to reduce South Africa to 202 for eight, but Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini held out for more than 17 overs, sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 50 before Steyn was trapped in front by Andrew McDonald for 28.

Captain Graeme Smith had not featured in the match since retiring hurt with a broken finger in the first innings, but he bravely returned in a bid to bat out the remaining overs with Ntini.

However, with the close of play in sight, Smith was bowled by Mitchell Johnson to spark scenes of jubilation in the Australia camp.

Siddle was the pick of the Australia bowlers, taking 3-54 to complement his first-innings five-wicket haul, while McDonald returned figures of 2-32.

While South Africa won the series 2-1, Australia’s victory ensured they remain top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings.