<p>Faf du Plessis batted for more than seven hours and scored an inspirational century on debut to carry South Africa to a morale-boosting draw in the second Test against Australia on Monday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The 28-year-old was grit personified in a tension-filled fifth and final day, compiling an unbeaten 110 to steer the Proteas to safety in the stifling heat of the Adelaide Oval. <br /><br />Australia paceman Peter Siddle and spinner Nathan Lyon captured late wickets to leave South Africa wobbling at 240-8, but all-rounder Du Plessis and Morne Morkel survived the drama-filled final overs to leave the series tied at 0-0 after the drawn first Test in Brisbane. <br /><br />South Africa were 248-8 at the close, 182 runs behind the 430-run target Australia captain Michael Clarke set for victory, with Morkel unbeaten on eight. <br /><br />The third and final Test starts in Perth on Friday, a quick turnaround for two teams who will be carrying injuries and battling fatigue after five days in Adelaide’s baking heat. “Faf was outstanding to make a 100 on debut,” said Clarke. <br /><br />Du Plessis and Kallis seemed set to frustrate the hosts again after scoring a big partnership in the first innings and guiding their team past the follow-on, but Lyon struck to have Kallis caught for 46 and give Australia renewed hope. <br /><br />Siddle raised the tension to boiling point by dismissing Dale Steyn for a duck with a full toss that was pushed straight to Rob Quiney in close for the seventh wicket. <br /><br />Exhausted but charging in on pure adrenalin, Siddle bowled Rory Kleinveldt with a yorker to spark a roar from the thousands of enthralled spectators, but Morkel proved rock solid at the close and scored a pair of boundaries to defuse the threat in the final over. Du Plessis was earlier made to wait five nervous overs on 98, but brought up his 100th run with a drive through the covers for two off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus. <br /><br />Siddle earlier bowled A B de Villiers with a stinging off-cutter through the gate to remove the wicketkeeper for 33 and end the fifth-wicket partnership after a marathon 68 overs that started shortly after tea on day four. <br /><br />score board<br /><br />Australia (I Innings): 550<br /><br />South Africa (I Innings): 388<br /><br />Australia (II Innings): 267/8 decl<br /><br />South Africa (II Innings, O/n: 77/4):<br /><br />Petersen b Siddle 24<br />Smith c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 0<br />Amla c Clarke b Lyon 17<br />Rudolph c Cowan b Lyon 3<br />De Villiers b Siddle 33<br />Du Plessis (not out) 110<br />Kallis c Cowan b Lyon 46<br />Steyn c Quiney b Siddle 0<br />Kleinveldt b Siddle 3<br />Morkel (not out) 8<br /><br />Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-1, NB-1) 4<br /><br />Total (for 8 wkts, 148 overs) 248<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-36, 3-45, 4-45, 5-134, 6-233, 7-234, 8-240.<br />Bowling: Hilfenhaus 34-16-65-1, Siddle 33-15-65-4, Clarke 18-5-34-0, Lyon 50-31-49-3, Warner 6-0-29-0, Quiney 6-3-4-0, Ponting 1-1-0-0. </p>
<p>Faf du Plessis batted for more than seven hours and scored an inspirational century on debut to carry South Africa to a morale-boosting draw in the second Test against Australia on Monday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The 28-year-old was grit personified in a tension-filled fifth and final day, compiling an unbeaten 110 to steer the Proteas to safety in the stifling heat of the Adelaide Oval. <br /><br />Australia paceman Peter Siddle and spinner Nathan Lyon captured late wickets to leave South Africa wobbling at 240-8, but all-rounder Du Plessis and Morne Morkel survived the drama-filled final overs to leave the series tied at 0-0 after the drawn first Test in Brisbane. <br /><br />South Africa were 248-8 at the close, 182 runs behind the 430-run target Australia captain Michael Clarke set for victory, with Morkel unbeaten on eight. <br /><br />The third and final Test starts in Perth on Friday, a quick turnaround for two teams who will be carrying injuries and battling fatigue after five days in Adelaide’s baking heat. “Faf was outstanding to make a 100 on debut,” said Clarke. <br /><br />Du Plessis and Kallis seemed set to frustrate the hosts again after scoring a big partnership in the first innings and guiding their team past the follow-on, but Lyon struck to have Kallis caught for 46 and give Australia renewed hope. <br /><br />Siddle raised the tension to boiling point by dismissing Dale Steyn for a duck with a full toss that was pushed straight to Rob Quiney in close for the seventh wicket. <br /><br />Exhausted but charging in on pure adrenalin, Siddle bowled Rory Kleinveldt with a yorker to spark a roar from the thousands of enthralled spectators, but Morkel proved rock solid at the close and scored a pair of boundaries to defuse the threat in the final over. Du Plessis was earlier made to wait five nervous overs on 98, but brought up his 100th run with a drive through the covers for two off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus. <br /><br />Siddle earlier bowled A B de Villiers with a stinging off-cutter through the gate to remove the wicketkeeper for 33 and end the fifth-wicket partnership after a marathon 68 overs that started shortly after tea on day four. <br /><br />score board<br /><br />Australia (I Innings): 550<br /><br />South Africa (I Innings): 388<br /><br />Australia (II Innings): 267/8 decl<br /><br />South Africa (II Innings, O/n: 77/4):<br /><br />Petersen b Siddle 24<br />Smith c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 0<br />Amla c Clarke b Lyon 17<br />Rudolph c Cowan b Lyon 3<br />De Villiers b Siddle 33<br />Du Plessis (not out) 110<br />Kallis c Cowan b Lyon 46<br />Steyn c Quiney b Siddle 0<br />Kleinveldt b Siddle 3<br />Morkel (not out) 8<br /><br />Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-1, NB-1) 4<br /><br />Total (for 8 wkts, 148 overs) 248<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-36, 3-45, 4-45, 5-134, 6-233, 7-234, 8-240.<br />Bowling: Hilfenhaus 34-16-65-1, Siddle 33-15-65-4, Clarke 18-5-34-0, Lyon 50-31-49-3, Warner 6-0-29-0, Quiney 6-3-4-0, Ponting 1-1-0-0. </p>