Australia were glad for a cracked pitch and a couple of helpful umpiring decisions as they clinched a last-ditch consolation victory by 103 runs in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The Australians, desperate to avoid the first 3-0 whitewash in their proud history, were brought to their knees by an incredible rearguard action by the South Africans, with Dale Steyn (28) and Makhaya Ntini (28 not out) surviving for 17 overs and over an hour as they added 50 for the ninth wicket and then, incredibly, Graeme Smith came in with a broken hand and an excruciating elbow injury and took the visitors to within 10 balls and six minutes of a draw.
South Africa began the final day with nine wickets in hand and 90 overs to survive or, improbably, 314 runs to get. But they could never get into gear in the first session.
Neil McKenzie (27) drove at a wide delivery from Doug Bollinger and was caught in the gully while the one-time rock of the batting order, Jacques Kallis, lasted just 13 balls although he fell to the first of the two controversial decisions that cost South Africa dear.
Kallis (4) got a leading edge to an Andrew McDonald delivery which the bowler dived forward and to his right to gather, although the debutante was unsure whether it was a fair catch. The TV replays were inconclusive, so the decision went back to the on-field umpires, who took the word of Ricky Ponting and the other Australians.
The other dodgy — in fact just plain poor — decision was like a knee to the groin for South Africa. The great scrapper, Mark Boucher, was adjudged leg-before-wicket by Asoka de Silva when a full toss from wide of the stumps by Peter Siddle struck him high on the pad and was obviously heading well past leg stump.
Hashim Amla made another elegant half-century, while AB de Villiers scored a gutsy 56, but when he was dismissed, chopping Peter Siddle on to his stumps, it left Paul Harris, Steyn and Ntini as the incoming batsmen.
But Harris put his body on the line in surviving for almost an hour, before Steyn and Ntini’s extraordinary partnership.
They both survived some close calls, with Ntini most dramatically being let off by Matthew Hayden at first slip off Bollinger.
This South African team is made of stern stuff and captain Smith did not disappoint those wanting this phenomenal series to end on the most dramatic, rousing note.
After Steyn was not able to handle a delivery from McDonald which zipped back into his pads and kept low, Smith came to the crease to a rousing reception from the Australian fans he has so convincingly won over.
He gritted his teeth and presented a broad bat to 16 balls, but was not able to keep out a snorter from Mitchell Johnson that cut back in off a crack in the pitch and crashed into the stumps.