Ryan Harris destroyed the tail-end in the final overs of the fifth day to give Australia a dramatic series win over South Africa in Cape Town. PHOTO: AFP
Australia won the third and final Test against South Africa by 245 runs at Newlands on Wednesday in a nail-biting finish with just 27 balls to spare after a day of epic home resistance.
Ryan Harris bowled Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel with the first and third balls of his 25th over as Australia won the match as well as the series by two Tests to one.
Steyn and Vernon Philander (51) came together with 19.5 overs remaining and survived until Harris returned to the attack for a final burst.
Michael Clarke’s side became the first team to win a series against South Africa since Ricky Ponting’s Australia won by the same margin in South Africa in 2008/09.
Proteas fought till the end
When South Africa resumed on 71 for four it seemed unlikely they could pull off another great escape to go along with a draw they earned against Australia in Adelaide in 2011/12 and India in Johannesburg earlier this season. But a succession of stubborn partnerships took the match down to the last five overs.
The home side’s hopes seemed to rest with De Villiers and Faf du Plessis, two of the key figures when South Africa fought out a draw from a similar position in Adelaide in 2012.
Du Plessis was again resolute but shortly before tea he was leg before wicket to the first ball of a new spell by part-time leg-spinner Steve Smith. He faced 109 balls in making 47.
But the drama was not finished as Philander defied the Australians for 105 balls. However, Ryan Harris made short work of the tail-enders and put an end to South Africa in a thrilling final session.
Australia took a first innings lead of 207, with Mitchell Johnson taking four wickets and Ryan Harris three, then rattled up 303 for five declared in their second innings to set South Africa a nominal target of 511.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2014.
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