SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — South Africa were untroubled as they batted out for their first draw in almost six years on the final day of the third Test in Sydney on Sunday, denying Australia a series whitewash.

Australia went into the fifth day of the rain-ravaged Test requiring 14 wickets for an improbable victory, but the Proteas comfortably negotiated their way through to earn a first draw in their last 47 Tests going back to New Zealand in 2017.

The teams shook hands with five overs left and South Africa at 106 for two in their second innings with Sarel Erwee unbeaten on 42 and Temba Bavuma 17.

Australia enforced the follow-on after Josh Hazlewood led the way with four wickets to dismiss the Proteas for 255 — 21 runs short of their target, but their highest innings total of a dismal series.

“We tried different things, kept putting balls in good areas and hoped the luck would turn,” Australia skipper Pat Cummins said.

Australia could only muster two wickets in South Africa’s second innings with skipper Dean Elgar yet again failing along with Heinrich Klaasen.

Elgar fell for the fourth time in the series to a leg-side catch by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 10.

Cummins peppered him with a rising delivery and targeted Elgar’s technical batting flaw off his hips for yet another cheap dismissal.

Elgar finished a miserable series with just 56 runs from six innings at an average of 9.33, raising yet more questions about his future as South Africa’s Test skipper.

“Touring Australia is never easy,” Elgar said. “The message to the group yesterday was to fight it out on day five.”

Australia opener Usman Khawaja was named man-of-the-match for his unbeaten 195 in Australia’s first innings declaration of 475-4.

Fellow opener David Warner was man-of-the-series, based largely on his double century in Melbourne.

Asked about his feelings on being stranded short of his first Test double century by the declaration, Khawaja said: “I would have loved to get a double ton.

“But this is what cricket is about. You play for milestones but you also need to do the best for the team.”

Australia missed out on a series clean sweep after winning the opening Test by a six-wicket rout in Brisbane inside two days, then hammering the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne.

The final Test draw means Australia have yet to mathematically seal a place in the World Test Championship final set for London in June ahead of next month’s series in India.

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings 475-4 declared (U

Khawaja not out 195, S Smith 104; A

Nortje 2-55)

South Africa 1st innings (overnight 149-6)

D Elgar c Carey b Hazlewood 15

S Erwee b Lyon 18

H Klaasen c Carey b Cummins 2

T Bavuma c Carey b Hazlewood 35

K Zondo lbw b Cummins 39

K Verreynne c Smith b Cummins 19

M Jansen c Carey b Head 11

S Harmer b Hazlewood 47

K Maharaj lbw b Hazlewood 53

K Rabada c and b Lyon 3

A Nortje not out 0

Extras (b2, lb1, nb5, pen5) 13

Total (all out, 108 overs) 255

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Elgar), 2-37

(Erwee), 3-37 (Klaasen), 4-85 (Bavuma),

5-130 (Zondo), 6-137 (Verreynne),

7-167 (Jansen), 8-252 (Maharaj), 9-255

(Harmer), 10-255(Rabada)

Bowling: Hazlewood 23-7-48-4 (2nb),

Cummins 23-7-60-3 (2nb), Lyon 40-16-

88-2, Agar 14-3-30-0 (1nb), Head 7-1-21-

1, Smith 1-1-0-0

South Africa 2nd innings (following on)

S Erwee not out 42

D Elgar c Carey b Cummins 10

H Klaasen b Hazlewood 35

T Bavuma not out 17

Extras (nb2) 2

Total (2 wickets, 41.5 overs) 106

Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Elgar), 2-75

(Klaasen)

Bowling: Hazlewood 5-2-9-1, Agar

8-2-28-0, Cummins 8-1-16-1, Lyon 15-

5-32-0, Head 2-0-4-0, Smith 1-0-8-0,

Labuschagne 2.5-1-9-0 (2nb)

Man of the match: Usman Khawaja (AUS)

Man of the series: David Warner (AUS)

Result: Match drawn

Series: Australia win 2-0.

Toss: Australia

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Paul

Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)

Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)