On the fourth day of the Adelaide Test, Australia avoided what has never happened on their soil in past 140 years, a Test series whitewash. The third ever Day & Night Test saw the hosts had the last laugh as they defeated South Africa by seven wickets but eventually lost the three-match series 2-1.
AUSSIES WIN! Handscomb hits the winning runs on debut to hand Australia a 7-wicket victory in the third Test! Renshaw unbeaten on 34 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/fmoKeZycyJ
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 27, 2016
The Proteas resumed their innings at 194/6 after losing three quick wickets in the dying hour of Day 3. The equation did not change on the next morning either as Stephen Cook, who was targeting a triple digit score, could just watch wickets getting tumbled on the other end.
Quinton de Kock, the highest run-scorer for South Africa on the tour, failed to stick around as he was trapped in-front of the wicket to Jackson Bird. Bowling all-rounder Vernon Philander then dodged some good balls off but eventually fell to an in-swinger from Mitchell Starc.
Starc, who already had five wickets in the match, added one more by clipping off Cook’s stumps, moments after he completed his second Test hundred. South Africa’s second innings got finished at 250, giving 127 runs to chase for the Australians to win the match.
Australia’s quest to avoid a whitewash at home started in some fashion as boundaries started to leak from the first over itself. Back to his batting position, David Warner seemed in a bit of hurry to reach the total. Accompanying him was debutant Matt Renshaw, who looked composed in his approach.
Both were looking comfortable out there before a mix-up sent Warner back to the pavilion for 47. Two balls later, baggy green’s highest run-maker in the series Usman Khawaja was adjudged LBW for nought. Losing two wickets in blink of an eye put the pressure back on the Aussies.
Skipper Steven Smith then joined Renshaw at the crease. Some fiery strikes from both batters put Australia close to sealing the third Test, thus saving them from a humiliation of a whitewash.
Two runs prior to chasing down the target, Kyle Abbott sent Smith packing, putting an end to his torrid time on the field, both as a captain and as a batsman.
Peter Handscomb then whacked Shamsi to deep mid-wicket area to finish the match and clinch their second Day & Night Test win.
South Africa’s Vernon Philander was named as the Player-of-the-Series for picking up 12 wickets while Australia’s Usman Khawaja was named as the Man-of-the-Match for his magnificent hundred in first innings.