THE three-day tour match between South Africa and Australia A ended in an inevitable draw yesterday with Phil Hughes and Rob Quiney safely keeping the Proteas attack at bay in the closing stages at the SCG.

While the result was never in doubt, the South Africans will be pleased with what they took out of their only practice match before Friday’s first Test at the Gabba.
Resuming at 1-128, Hashim Amla brought up his half century before following captain Graeme Smith’s example by retiring on 53 runs, which gave the Proteas’ top-order some good time at the crease.
Jacques Rudolph (39), JP Duminy (31) and AB de Villiers (24) all got off to good starts, before South Africa declared their innings at 6-277, 203 runs shy of Australia A’s first-innings total.
Captain Andrew McDonald (2-47) picked up two wickets, while Glenn Maxwell (2-70) struck again yesterday to also finish the innings with two wickets.
That gave Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander 27 overs to bowl at the Australia A top order.
Steyn, the world’s best Test bowler, was particularly venomous.
He had Liam Davis caught behind for a duck, but Hughes (one not out) and Quiney (11 not out) managed to get through the spell unscathed.
With no result the only outcome, both captains agreed to end the match an hour early, with the hosts at 1-13.(CA)