Sydney - Mitchell Johnson took the last South African wicket to fall, with only 10 balls left in the match, to bowl the Proteas out for 272 and secure a dramatic 103-run victory for Australia on the fifth day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

South Africa had been reduced to 207 for eight shortly after tea when Paul Harris was dismissed lbw by fast bowler Peter Siddle.

Tail-enders Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini then batted for 17.3 overs, on a pitch displaying its fair share of variable bounce, to frustrate the Australian bowlers as they added 50 runs for the ninth-wicket.

The runs were not important but the time used up was and the pair took South Africa to the brink of securing a draw before medium-pacer Andrew McDonald removed Steyn leg-before with a delivery that straightened off the pitch.

Steyn was out for 28 off 65 balls and South Africa needed to bat out a further eight and a half overs to save the match.

Enter Graeme Smith who came out to bat with a fractured hand and still suffering the effects of his tennis elbow injury.

Smith and Ntini defied Australia for a further 6.4 overs until Smith was bowled by a fast, swinging delivery from left-arm fast bowler Johnson.

Ntini enjoyed his fair share of luck as he was dropped twice during his innings but he remained unbeaten on 28 off 75 balls as Australia secured the win to leave the series two-one in South Africa’s favour.

Australia’s bowlers were in control until the tea-break with only half-centuries from Hashim Amla (59, 112 balls, 9x4) and AB de Villiers (56, 144 balls, 8x4) providing any cheer for the visiting side.

Amla fell before lunch when off spinner Nathan Hauritz got a delivery to bounce and turn into the batsman. Amla tried to play the ball on the on side but the ball came off his bat, then on to his thigh pad, before popping up to Simon Katich at short leg.

South Africa’s best chance of saving the match then rested on De Villiers’ shoulders but, in the over before tea, he tried to cut a Siddle delivery that cramped him for room. De Villiers’ attempted cut resulted in him playing on and it looked as if South Africa’s hopes of securing a draw were over.

That is until South Africa’s tail-enders got there heads down to almost pull off a most unlikely result.

Man of the match Siddle took 3-53 while Johnson, McDonald and Doug Bollinger took two wickets apiece to help Australia to their win.

Teams:

Australia:

Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew McDonald, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger

South Africa:

Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini