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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
score board
Australia (I Innings): 550
South Africa (I Innings): 388
Australia (II Innings): 267/8 decl
South Africa (II Innings, O/n: 77/4):
Petersen b Siddle 24
Smith c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 0
Amla c Clarke b Lyon 17
Rudolph c Cowan b Lyon 3
De Villiers b Siddle 33
Du Plessis (not out) 110
Kallis c Cowan b Lyon 46
Steyn c Quiney b Siddle 0
Kleinveldt b Siddle 3
Morkel (not out) 8
Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-1, NB-1) 4
Total (for 8 wkts, 148 overs) 248
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-36, 3-45, 4-45, 5-134, 6-233, 7-234, 8-240.
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.
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