page_title: South African cricket team in Australia in 2008–09
section_title: Third Test
hierarchical_section_title: South African cricket team in Australia in 2008–09 / Test series / Third Test
caption_attribution_description: A cricket shot from Privatemusings, taken at the third day of the SCG Test between Australia and South Africa.
context_page_description: The South Africa cricket team toured Australia between 6 December 2008 and 30 January 2009, playing three Test matches, two Twenty20 Internationals and five One Day Internationals against Australia.
  Following a dispute with Cricket Australia, the three leading news agencies, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press decided not to cover the series.
context_section_description: Team selections: South Africa picked the same team for the third Test in a row.  Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson were all omitted from the Australian team due to injury.  Doug Bollinger and Andrew McDonald were included in the starting eleven, with Ben Hilfenhaus again being left out.
  Day One: Australia won the toss for the third time in the series and elected to bat.
  
  After Katich (47) started strongly, Ponting was dismissed first ball for the second time in the series and Australia was 63-2. Hayden (31) and Hussey (30) both struggled, before Clarke (73*) and Haddin (38) came together at 162-5.  Australia finished the day on 267-6, from 88 overs.
  
  South Africa seemed flat in the field, with Clarke being dropped twice, but continued to take wickets at regular intervals.
  
  South African wicket-takers: Steyn 2-71, Kallis 1-43, Harris 1-44, Morkel 1-49, and Ntini 1-53.
  Day Two: Clarke (138) and Johnson (64) batted through the first session without loss - the first time Australia had done so for the series.  Late hitting from Hauritz (41) and Siddle (23) lifted the total to 445 all out from 136.2 overs.
  
  South African wicket-takers: Harris 3-84, Steyn 3-95, Duminy 1-14, Kallis 1-54, Morkel 1-89, and Ntini 1-102.
  
  In reply, South Africa lost Smith retired hurt for 30 - with a broken left hand courtesy of a lifter from Johnson.  McKenzie (23) and Amla (30*) were patient before Kallis (36*) lifted the scoring rate late in the day.
  South Africa finished on 125-1.
  
  Australian wicket-taker: Siddle 1-21.
  Day Three: Johnson (2 wickets and a run-out) and McDonald (1 wicket) reduced South Africa to 193-5 (with Smith absent injured) before Boucher (89) and Morkel (40) put on 115 for the 6th wicket.  Siddle then took 4-7 in 22 deliveries to have South Africa all out for 327.  This gave Australia a lead of 118 on the first innings.
  
  Australian wicket-takers: Siddle 5-59 (his first 5 wicket haul in Test cricket), Johnson 2-69, and McDonald 1-41.
  
  In reply, Australia were 33 without loss from 6 overs.
  Day Four: Australia aimed to set South Africa a victory target on the fifth day with Ponting (53) and Katich (61) getting starts. Hussey (45*) anchored the innings while Clarke (41) attempted to score quickly.  The declaration at 257-4 set South Africa 376 to win.
  
  South African wicket-takers: Morkel 2-38, Steyn 1-60, and Harris 1-63.
  
  With Smith absent injured Morkel (0) opened the batting with McKenzie.  His demise gave Bollinger his first Test wicket.  South Africa were 62-1 at the close.  The pitch was cracked and showing uneven bounce.  South Africa required a further 312 to win from 90 overs on the last day of the Test series for a 3-0 clean sweep.
  
  Australian wicket-taker: Bollinger 1-11.
  Day Five: On a deteriorating pitch South Africa lost 3 wickets in each session to be all out for 272.  Australia achieved victory with only 11 deliveries left in the match when Graeme Smith, batting for 17 deliveries and 26 minutes with a broken hand and injured elbow, was bowled by Mitchell Johnson.  Besides the heroics of Smith, Ntini faced 75 deliveries, Steyn 65 and Harris 43 to get South Africa within sight of a draw.
  
  Australian wicket-takers: Siddle 3-54, McDonald 2-32, Johnson 2-49, Bollinger 2-53, and Hauritz 1-47.
caption: Hashim Amla batting in the Third Test at Sydney
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