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Consolation win for Australia

Smith wins the Man of the Series award
He manages to hold on for nearly seven overs

Sydney: Skipper Graeme Smith came out to bat with a broken finger but could not save the match for South Africa as Australia won by 103 runs in the third and final cricket Test here on Wednesday to prevent a series whitewash and retain the top spot in the ICC rankings.

Chasing 376 for victory, the South Africans, who were 62 for one overnight, folded up for 272 just 10 balls before the scheduled close of play on the final day. South Africa clinched the winner’s trophy after triumphs in the first two matches in Perth and Melbourne.

Smith won the Man of the Series award for his aggregate of 326 runs and “exceptional leadership” in the series.

After Australian skipper Ricky Ponting set up an exciting finale with his bold declaration on the fourth day, it was left to the South Africans to make a match of it, but they collapsed to 171 for five by the 71st over leaving them with no choice, but to fight out for a draw. Hashim Amla (59) and A.B. de Villiers (56) were the top-scorers for the visitor, but it was Smith who stole the show by coming out to bat after the fall of the ninth wicket.

Even with a broken right-hand finger, which has forced him to drop out of the upcoming one-day series, Smith decided to take the field after Dale Steyn’s (28) dismissal in the 108th over.

The left-hander entered the ground to a rousing reception with the SCG crowd standing up to applaud the visiting skipper for his gritty decision.

Smith batted in discomfort for his three runs but managed to hold on for nearly seven overs with Makhaya Ntini (28 not out) at the other end.

Johnson strikes

The duo were just 10 balls away from saving the match for their team, but Mitchell Johnson ended Australia’s agonising wait for a win by ripping through Smith’s defences in the 114th over.

But there was plenty of drama before the Aussies could actually celebrate the consolation win with Ntini riding his luck to frustrate the World champion. He was dropped twice after surviving a close run out attempt.

Andrew McDonald got an easy caught and bowled chance in the 108th over but perhaps not expecting it, the debutant all-rounder could not hold on, much to the dismay of his skipper.

Ntini added to the Aussie agony in the next over after Matthew Hayden put down an even easier chance.

Doug Bollinger watched in horror as Hayden, despite getting two hands to the edge that flew off Ntini’s blade, spilled a regulation catch in the slips.

Earlier, Amla and de Villiers were the only South African batsmen to hold their own. While Amla’s 59-run knock came off 112 balls studded with nine fours, de Villiers took 144 deliveries to reach his 56 that had eight fours.

Peter Sidlle returned the best figures among the Aussie bowlers, scalping three wickets for 54 runs — PTI

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