Twitter reactions: Australia clinch series after Sarel Erwee holds fort to ensure a draw in SCG Test

Sarel Erwee and Temba Bavuma played out the final session of the third Test against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground to secure a draw and keep Proteas’ hopes of making the World Test Championship (WTC) final alive.

The hosts went into the final day searching for 14 wickets of tourists to complete a series sweep but faced a strong fightback from South Africa’s eighth-wicket pair of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer in the first innings.

A sensational spell from Aussie skipper Pat Cummins on Day 4 filled the home team with the hopes of a final-day victory, but they were blunted by overnight batters Harmer and Jansen before Maharaj took South Africa’s grit to another level. He added 85 runs with Harmer for the eighth wicket before Australia wrapped up South Africa’s innings and enforced the follow-on.

The visitors lost captain Dean Elgar early in the second innings, but Erwee and Henirch Klassen kept Australia at bay. The duo took the team’s total to 75 before Klassen was dismissed. However, Erwee kept his end alive and was well supported by Bavuma as the duo played out the final session to ensure a draw for South Africa.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

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Two-nil! ✌️ #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/nyDTDOMXhY

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2023

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🚨 RESULT | MATCH DRAWN

The final Test match of the #AUSvSA series ends in a draw 🤝

Congratulations Australia on your series victory ✌️#BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/x4qtLl8dw7

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 8, 2023

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All over at the SCG as Australia and South Africa share the spoils to draw the third and final Test of the series.#WTC23 | #AUSvSA

📝 https://t.co/yJR6DiH5jX pic.twitter.com/hFO51iWOYT

— ICC (@ICC) January 8, 2023

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Australia seal the series 2-0 after South Africa salvage a draw in Sydney.#AUSvSA Scorecard: https://t.co/PgwjW20YN9 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/PdMPubYAg1

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 8, 2023

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Streak has come to an end
Longest streaks of Tests producing a result
46 – SOUTH AFRICA – 2017-23
26 – Zimbabwe – 2005-17
23 – Australia – 1999-2001
22 – Australia – 2001-03
22 – England – 1884-92
22 – Pakistan – 2015-18

#AUSvSA

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 8, 2023

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South Africa avoid a collapse on the final day to hang on to a draw in a rain-affected Test at the SCG.

Australia take the series 2-0 and move closer to a spot in the World Test Championship final https://t.co/yFtAUdQJiP #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/9OzLYGDOd0

— Omar Faruque (@OmarFar46196492) January 8, 2023

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Did 2023 start with two draws? Done the quota already! #PAKvNZ #AUSvSA

— rainy days (@wheresistherain) January 8, 2023

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#Australia #SouthAfrica 3rd #Sydney Test Draw 🏏🇦🇺🇿🇦#AUS Win Series 2-0 👏

Player of the Match – #UsmanKhawaja (195*)

Player of the Series – #DavidWarner (213 Runs, 3 Matches, Double Century) #AUSvSA #AUSvsSA #CricketAustralia pic.twitter.com/DLPNgV1Kok

— Nishant Dravid (@nishantdravid73) January 8, 2023

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with the amount of rain in Sydney, the draw was the most likely result, always. Just highlighting how numb the decision to deny Usman a double century was. 1-2 overs to get 5 runs would have changed nothing! #AUSvSA https://t.co/cwelwaXINu

— Lunga ibn Kupiso (@Lunga_Kupiso) January 8, 2023

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Most consecutive Tests without a Draw:

46 – SA (2017-2023), Won 23, Lost 23
26 – Zim (2005-2017), Won 3, Lost 23
23 – Aus (1999-2001), Won 20, Lost 3#AUSvSA

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 8, 2023