07 January, 2009

Australian players celebrate Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has bowled South African skipper Graeme Smith with 10 balls to spare as Australia escaped with a thrilling victory in a remarkable 3 Mobile Test at the SCG.

The courageous Smith (three), coming it at No.11 with a broken left hand and injured right elbow, and tailender Makhaya Ntini (28) held Australia up for 29 minutes and appeared likely to escape with an against the odds draw.

But Johnson – Australia's best bowler all series – struck at 5.34pm before being swamped by delirious and relieved team-mates.

Chasing an improbable 376 for victory, the Proteas were all out for 272.

The hosts won the match by 103 runs, with paceman Peter Siddle (match figures of 8-113) named man-of-the-match.

Smith (326 runs at 65.2) was named man-of-the-series.

The Proteas took the series 2-1 but Australia will remain top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankings.

In a dramatic final hour of an enthralling match, Ntini was dropped twice on 16 but held on to play the innings of his life.

Dale Steyn (28) and Ntini had earlier frustrated Australia's push for victory with a ninth-wicket partnership of 50 before Andrew McDonald (2-32) trapped Steyn lbw.

That opened the way for the courageous Smith to make his entry with 7.2 overs left.

Hayden dropped Ntini off Doug Bollinger (2-53) in the next over as Australia's chances of victory appeared to be evaporating.


But in a series containing plenty of unexpected turns, Johnson produced the final twist as the noisy last-day crowd of 9075 went into raptures.

South Africa entered the final day needing a further 314 runs to pull off an improbable win - and a series clean sweep - having progressed to 1-62 at stumps on day four.

But any hope of an unlikely victory disappeared when the tourists lost Neil McKenzie (27), Jacques Kallis (four) and Hashim Amla (59) in the opening session.

AB de Villiers (56), JP Duminy (16) and Mark Boucher (four) fell after lunch and it appeared the home side was coasting to a comfortable victory.

Steyn, Ntini and Smith had other ideas, ensuring a tremendous series finished on an appropriately dramatic note.