Sydney: Australia won the third and final Test beating South Africa by 103 runs in the Sydney Cricket Ground. The victory ensures they remain on top in the ICC Test Rankings for Test teams.

Inspirational South African skipper Graeme Smith batted with a broken hand in a courageous but ultimately failed attempt to save the match. Earlier hosts were frustrated by a 50-run ninth-wicket stand between Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.

South Africa Chasing a stiff target of 376 runs, Amla and De Villiers showed some resistance but other batsmen failed to stay at the wicket and eventually allowed the world champions to dominate the final day.

Earlier, South Africa started the day with 62/1 and then Kallis stumbled after making four runs, falling short of 12 runs from touching the milestone of making 10,000 runs.

HM Amla (59) remained at the crease for some time giving a message to the Aussies of a hard fight, but eventually caught by Katich off Hauritz.

After Amla, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy showed some resistance. Soon South Africa lost these two batsmen also, on whom South Africa had some hopes. Finally their innings came to an end; Johnson scalped Duminy, whereas de Villiers was bowled by Siddle when the ball hit the stumps taking an inside edge of the bat.South Africa were eventually bowled out for 272.

Siddle was declared as the player of the match after taking eight wickets.Smith, the first South Africa captain to win a Test series in Australia, was named Man of the Series.

Tags: australia south africa 2008-09, south africa tour of australia, test series, sydney, graeme smith, makhaya ntini, peter siddle, ricky ponting.