The scene was set for some final session theatrics in Adelaide, as South Africa refused to yield the second Test against Australia.
Fast bowler Peter Siddle (2-48) knocked over AB de Villiers’ stumps shortly after lunch, but Australia still needed five wickets to record victory, with the Proteas 5-212 at tea.
South Africa trailed Australia’s 430-run target by 218, but with a run-rate of 1.81, day five was a tale of survival.
Debutant Faf du Plessis (94no, 277 balls) was playing a remarkable innings for his country, while superstar Jacques Kallis (38no, 80 balls) proved as difficult to remove injured as when fully fit.
One more wicket would expose the tail and immediately put the win within reach for Australia, but with du Plessis and Kallis putting on an unbeaten 78, a brave South Africa were refusing to budge.
A series win could allow Australia to leapfrog the Proteas for the No.1 ranking in Test cricket.
De Villiers and du Plessis, former classmates at school in Pretoria, put on a defiant stand of 89 runs after coming to the crease on day four with the scoreboard looking bleak at 4-45.
They faced 408 balls and scored at 1.30 runs an over, but that was exactly what South Africa required.
De Villiers’ 33 was one of the slowest innings by runs scored in Test history – taking 243 minutes and 220 balls without a boundary.
Du Plessis, who also made 78 in the first innings, was displaying incredible concentration and technique for a man on Test debut.
Set a world record fourth innings chase to win with one and a half days to do it, South Africa resumed day five at a precarious 4-77.
Captain Michael Clarke (0-27) was the man most likely for Australia on day five, but despite umpire Billy Bowden twice raising the finger for lbw appeals on du Plessis, the decisions were overturned.
Spinner Nathan Lyon (2-49) also failed to get any luck from a DRS lbw challenge on the 28-year-old rookie.
Ben Hilfenhaus (1-55) and Siddle were struggling without James Pattinson (side strain), who is out for the summer and unable to bowl in the innings.
Hilfenhaus did have du Plessis dropped by keeper Matt Wade, who was standing up to the stumps, in the final over before tea.
