5 final day performances to save a Test

#3 South Africa against Australia at Adelaide, 2012

Faf du Plessis saved a match for South Africa on his Test debut

One of the most outstanding final day efforts to save a Test match in recent times came during South Africa’s tour to Australia in the 2012/13 season. It was the 2^nd Test of a 3-match series which was level at 0-0 after the 1^st Test at Brisbane.

A double century by skipper Michael Clarke and a century each from David Warner and Mike Hussey put the Australians in the driving seat as they amassed 550 runs in their first innings. The Proteas came up with a strong reply led by Graeme Smith’s 122 but still fell short of the hosts’ total by 162 runs.

Australia batted at a brisk pace in their second innings and gave the visitors a challenging target of 430 runs to win the match. South Africa were pushed on the back foot by the home team’s bowlers and found themselves reeling at 77 for 4 at the end of the 4^th day.

With his team under immense pressure to enforce a draw with just 6 wickets in hand, debutant Faf du Plessis brought out his best defensive game to the fore as did AB de Villiers, who scored an uncharacteristically slow 33 off 220 balls.

In 2 partnerships of 89 and 99 with de Villiers and Jacques Kallis respectively, du Plessis took the game away from Australia’s grasp. Although there were a flurry of wickets towards the end, the young batsman was resolute at one end and helped the Proteas achieve a draw with his unbeaten 110.