With the result, the hosts clinched the series 2-0 with one match left to play at the University of North West Hockey Centre in Potchefstroom on Sunday.
South Africa came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to draw the match in the dying stages of the encounter. Malaysia desperately needed a win to give themselves a chance of levelling the series in the fourth and final clash on Tuesday at the Randburg Hockey Stadium.
South Africa's penalty corners were poor – just one of the six brought success – while a host of great combination plays were undone in field play when the final pass went astray just metres from goal.
Against the run of play, the visitors through Fitri Saari worked some magic up the left-hand baseline with exquisite stickwork to set up Izwan Firdaus for the opening goal in the 27th minute, Malaysia having scored first in all three Test matches.
Two minutes later, Malaysia stole away again and Faiz Helmi conjured up a fine piece of skill to open the way for Chua Boon Huat and it was 2-0 by the 29th minute.
Running solo
Eight minutes after the break, Razie Abdul Rahim went on an unchallenged solo run to smash the ball from the top of the strike zone into the net for 3-0 after 43 minutes in favour of Malaysia.
In the 45th minute, South Africa midfielder Taine Paton showed presence of mind to catch the Malaysian defenders unawares and finished with a cracking shot into the backboard for a 3-1 scoreline.
In the 59th minute Matt Botha's assist was buried by Pierre de Voux for to make the score 3-2.
Captain Austin Smith sent a stunning drag-flick from South Africa's sixth penalty corner high into the net for 3-3 with seven minutes left.
Two minutes later Malaysia captain Shahrun Nabil dived for a fine deflection goal and Malaysia were 4-3 up.
With eight seconds left, Taine Paton made a courageous incursion from the same channel and got off a shot, which Hykes deflected into the net for a 4-4 draw and a series win for South Africa with one to play. – Sapa