• South Africa bat for a draw with Australia to deny Aussies series sweep.
• Josh Hazlewood takes four wickets as Proteas bowled out for 255.
• Dean Elgar finishes Test series with 56 runs from six innings.

AUS vs SA: On the final day of the third Test in Sydney on Sunday, South Africa batted for a draw, denying Australia a series sweep.

Australia began the fifth day of the rain-soaked Test needing 14 wickets to win, but the Proteas easily saw off the threat to secure their first draw in 47 Tests dating back to 2017.

With five overs remaining in their second innings, South Africa was 106 for two, with Sarel Erwee unbeaten on 42 and Temba Bavuma on 17.

Australia forced the follow-on when Josh Hazlewood took four wickets to eliminate the Proteas for 255, 21 runs short of their target but their highest innings total in a dreadful series.

No result could be found and the series ends 2-0 in Australia’s favour #AUSvSA

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— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2023

Australia only managed two wickets in South Africa’s second innings, with skipper Dean Elgar and Heinrich Klaasen both failing.

Elgar was caught leg-side by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for ten for the fourth time in the series.

Pat Cummins, Elgar’s rival captain, pounded him with rising deliveries and targeted Elgar’s mechanical batting weakness off his hips for another cheap dismissal.

Elgar concluded the series with 56 runs from six innings at an average of 9.33, casting further doubt on his future as South Africa’s Test captain.

Leading spinner Nathan Lyon was devastated after two disputed reviews involving Klaasen were overturned.

On 27, Klaasen survived a vehement leg before wicket appeal and subsequent review.

A run later, Steve Smith’s low catch was ruled not out following a review, with third umpire Richard Kettleborough deciding that part of the ball was touching the grass when it went into Smith’s fingers.

But Klaasen didn’t survive long and was bowled for 35 by Hazlewood.

Hazlewood had earlier struck a key double-wicket break to help South Africa wrap up their first innings.

He dismissed the tenacious Keshav Maharaj leg before wicket for 53 off 81 balls, breaking an 85-run stand with Simon Harmer.

Hazlewood struck again, knocking the stoic Harmer off an inside edge for 47 off 165 balls.

Lyon finished the Proteas’ first innings with a spectacular diving catch and bowled off Kagiso Rabada for three runs.

Hazlewood concluded with four wickets for 48 runs, while pace partner Pat Cummins claimed three wickets for 60 runs. Cummins finished the series with the most wickets (12).

Travis Head, a part-time off-spinner, made the first breakthrough before lunch, getting Marco Jansen caught behind by Carey for 11.

After winning the first Test by a six-wicket blowout in Brisbane in two days and smashing the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne, Australia fell short of a series clean sweep.

Australia still has to mathematically qualify for the World Test Championship final in London in June due to the final Test draw.

Australia might still lose the match if Sri Lanka wins 2-0 in New Zealand and India wins their series against Australia with a score of 4-0 next month.

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