Australia vs South Africa, 3rd Test at Sydney, Jan 02 2006 - Match Result

RESULT
3rd Test, Sydney, January 02 - 06, 2006, South Africa tour of Australia
451/9d & 194/6d
(T:287) 359 & 288/2

Australia won by 8 wickets

ricky-ponting
Player Of The Match
120 & 143*
ricky-ponting
Player Of The Series
515 runs
Match centre 
Scorecard summary
South Africa1st Inn
451/9(154.4 overs)
119 (271)
3/82 (30.4)
111 (275)
2/65 (34)
Australia1st Inn
359/10(95.1 overs)
120 (174)
4/81 (24.1)
2/25 (15)
South Africa2nd Inn
194/6(42 overs)
Australia2nd Inn
288/2(60.3 overs)
*143 (159)
1/77 (12.3)
View full scorecard

So Australia wins the Test by taking full advantage of Graeme Smith's generous last day declaration

And consequently take the series two nil

South Africa could feel a bit hard done by: with most of day four lost to rain, they were forced into a situation where they had to risk losing a match that they had controlled so much of in order to have a chance of winning

And on a pitch that had remained in tact under overcast skies all match, it was always going to be difficult to defend such a moderate target

The South African bowling on the final day was pedestrian at best, and rarely anything that troubled two of the best batsman in the world in Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden

60.3
4
Botha to Ponting, FOUR runs

tossed full outside off, struck away with a blazing cover drive for the winning runs

60.2
1
Botha to Hodge, 1 run

charges down the track to drive to the long off fielder

60.1
1
Botha to Ponting, 1 run

steps down the track to drive through wide mid on

Over60
1 run
AUS 282/2CRR: 4.70
RT Ponting 138 (157b 15x4)BJ Hodge 26 (41b 3x4)
JA Rudolph0/49 (11)
59.6
1
Rudolph to Ponting, 1 run

tossed full outside off, driven to cover where the fielder gets to it but can't stop a run

59.5
Rudolph to Ponting, no run

back to a shortish ball, cut to cover

59.4
Rudolph to Ponting, no run

full flighted delivery, driven back down the pitch

59.3
Rudolph to Ponting, no run

flighted full, played to mid wicket

59.2
Rudolph to Ponting, no run

stretches forward to defend

59.1
Rudolph to Ponting, no run

short outside off, cut to point

Over59
3 runs
AUS 281/2CRR: 4.76
RT Ponting 137 (151b 15x4)BJ Hodge 26 (41b 3x4)
J Botha1/71 (12)
58.6
1
Botha to Ponting, 1 run

steps down the track to work through mid wicket

58.5
Botha to Ponting, no run

forward to defedn to the on side

58.4
1
Botha to Hodge, 1 run

advances down the track, miscued push at the ball, deflects through cover

58.3
Botha to Hodge, no run

gets forward to drive back to the bowler

58.2
1
Botha to Ponting, 1 run

driven to mid on

58.1
Botha to Ponting, no run

defended to the on side

Over58
3 runs
AUS 278/2CRR: 4.79
BJ Hodge 25 (39b 3x4)RT Ponting 135 (147b 15x4)
JA Rudolph0/48 (10)
57.6
Rudolph to Hodge, no run

forward to defend

57.5
Rudolph to Hodge, no run

played to the off side

57.4
1
Rudolph to Ponting, 1 run

worked through mid wicket

57.3
Rudolph to Ponting, no run

played to mid wicket

57.2
1
Rudolph to Hodge, 1 run

flighted full, driven to mid on

Match details
TossSouth Africa, elected to bat first
Season2005/06
Player Of The Match
Player Of The Series
Series resultAustralia won the 3-match series 2-0
Match numberTest no. 1780
Match daysday (5-day match)
Test debut
TV Umpire
Match Referee