Defiant Proteas deny Australia a win

Faf du Plessis helped South Africa salvage a draw in an epic debut, defying the Australian attack all day Monday to post his maiden test century.

Du Plessis (110 not out) defended resolutely in partnerships with AB de Villiers (33) and Jacques Kallis (46) after resuming at 77-4, before guiding the South Africans to 248-8 at stumps in a tense last hour of the second test at Adelaide.

He reached his hundred off 310 balls as he anchored an 89-run fifth-wicket stand with de Villiers and 90 for the sixth with Kallis, who was batting with a hamstring injury that will likely rule him out of the third test starting Friday.

It was the first time since 1921 that Australia and South Africa have drawn consecutive tests in a series.