South Africa batted out for a draw on the final day of the third Test in Sydney on Sunday, denying Australia a series clean sweep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia entered the fifth day of the rain-ravaged Test requiring 14 wickets for victory, but the Proteas comfortably saw off the threat to earn a first draw in their last 47 Tests going back to 2017.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The teams shook hands with five overs left and South Africa at 106 for two in their second innings with Sarel Erwee unbeaten on 42 and Temba Bavuma on 17.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia enforced the follow-on after Josh Hazlewood led the way with four wickets to dismiss the Proteas for 255 -- 21 runs short of their target, but their highest innings total of a dismal series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia could only muster two wickets in South Africa's second innings with skipper Dean Elgar yet again failing along with Heinrich Klaasen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Elgar fell for the fourth time in the series to a leg-side catch by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 10.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rival captain Pat Cummins peppered him with a rising delivery and targeted Elgar's technical batting flaw off his hips for yet another cheap dismissal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Elgar finished a miserable series with 56 runs from six innings at an average of 9.33, raising yet more questions about his future as South Africa's Test skipper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Leading spinner Nathan Lyon was left distraught when two contentious reviews involving Klaasen went against him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Klaasen survived a strident leg before wicket appeal and subsequent review on 27.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A run later a low catch by Steve Smith was given not out after a review with the third umpire Richard Kettleborough ruling that part of the ball was touching the grass when it went into Smith's fingers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Klaasen didn't last much longer and was bowled by Hazlewood for 35.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hazlewood had earlier made a crucial double-wicket breakthrough to help wrap up South Africa's first innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He removed the stubborn Keshav Maharaj leg before wicket for 53 off 81 balls, ending a 85-run partnership with Simon Harmer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hazlewood struck again removing the stoic Harmer, bowling him off an inside edge for 47 from 165 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lyon wrapped up the Proteas first innings with a superb diving caught and bowled off Kagiso Rabada for three.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hazlewood finished with four for 48 while his pace partner Pat Cummins took three for 60. Cummins finished as the series leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Part-time off-spinner Travis Head made the initial breakthrough before lunch having Marco Jansen caught behind by Carey for 11.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia missed out on a series clean sweep after winning the opening Test by a six-wicket rout in Brisbane inside two days, then hammering the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The final Test draw means Australia have yet to mathematically seal a place in the World Test Championship final in London in June.<\/p>\r\n\r\n