South Africa lose two wickets but cut lead to 24

Despite the defeat in the day-night Test, South Africa managed to seal the three-match series 2-0 against the Steve Smith-led side.

However, Australia removed Kagiso Rabada (7) and Cook in quick succession to bowl out South Africa for 250.

South Africa fought to stay alive after losing two key wickets in the third day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval today.

But Australia won some redemption.

“You don’t just come here and beat them, you have to play some really good cricket, so to have done that over the majority of the tour makes me a really satisfied captain”.

Smith said the result was “a little bit bittersweet” given the series had been surrendered but called it “a great start for a young group”.

Chief selector Rod Marsh retired, and five players were discarded. Starc ended with a fifty to provide while Hazlewood remained not out on 11.

The South African captain had said after his century on the first day he could have batted for a week but failed to back up those words when he was brilliantly caught by Peter Handscomb at gully for 12.

“He didn’t seem fazed by it all”.

Like all of us, he’s just got to keep improving and he showed precisely that with his player of the match effort in Adelaide. “It was nice for him and Pete, two guys on debut, to be there at the end”. The seventh-wicket pair added 20 to the overnight total before Khawaja was out lbw to Philander for 145, hit on the knee roll directly in front and ending a 308-ball vigil that spanned the first three days of the test.

Despite displaying the resilience and determination hitherto unsighted from Australia’s batsmen this summer, Renshaw copped Bronx cheers from the Adelaide crowd over his snail-paced scoring.

At the close, South Africa were holding on and just 70 runs ahead of Australia heading into Sunday’s fourth day.

“Mission successful”, Du Plessis told reporters in Adelaide.

The skipper admitted the debutant may have lacked the X-factor he was selected for, but was impressed with the improvement he showed in Australia’s second innings.

Du Plessis should know.

“It obviously spurred Faf on in the first innings”, McKenzie said of the booing. He says he has been unfairly labeled a cheat for doing something that cricketers all over the world have done.

With South Africa hoping to once again mould into a powerhouse, comparisons have been made between this new-found bowling attack and their predecessors.

“The Aussie public was great until this last week”. “We came here to win the series.(it was) an incredible series and to win in Australia three times in a row is an unbelievable feat”.

This was South Africa’s second consecutive series win in Australia.

South Africa’s next assignment is the visit of Sri Lanka, with a three-Test series starting on 26 December.

The Australians will now play three limited-overs internationals against New Zealand then host Pakistan in a three-test series which starts December 15 with a day-night match in Brisbane.