Rain dampens Australia’s hopes of S.african series sweep

SYDNEY: Inclement weather threatens to derail Australia’s bid of a series clean sweep against South Africa and a confirmed place in the world Test championship final as the third and final Test against South Africa at Sydney cricket Ground appears destined for a draw.

Ater rain and bad light delays across the first two days, consistent, and at times heavy, rain meant no play was possible at all on Friday. It let Australia unable to add to its imposing first-innings score of 475-4 and Usman Khawaja stranded on his overnight score of 195 and tantalizingly close to his first double century.

Australia now has the dilemma of deciding how many runs it needs and then how much time it needs to bowl out South Africa twice to win in the two remaining days on a pitch not yet offering the expected assistance for the spinners.

“I think it’d be prety harsh if he (skipper Pat Cummins declared) straight away,” Khawaja said ater play was abandoned on the prospect have being stranded on 195. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“We could go out there and get a few more runs really quickly or we could declare prety much straight away. ”

Consistent rain swept through the Sydney area from early Friday morning and the gaps in the rainfall where not sufficient for ground staff to prepare the field and the match to resume. Shortly ater the scheduled tea break, umpires abandoned the day’s play.

The forecast appears more favorable for the final two days of the test, although some light showers are forecast for Saturday.

“Time is the enemy,” Khawaja said. “A result is unlikely, let’s be honest, but it’s still possible.”

Australia has already won the series ater two crushing defeats in the first two tests at Brisbane and Melbourne.

A win for Australia in this third test would confirm its place in the world test championship final to be played at Lord’s in England in June this year.

On Thursday, Khawaja scored his third straight SCG ton and passed his previous highest test score of 174 - against New Zealand at Brisbane in 2015 - and shared a 209-run partnership with Steve Smith to lit Australia to 475-4 when rain stopped play for the day.

“Every hundred is extremely special,” Khawaja said.