Australia's valiant attempt at a miracle win in the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba has fallen short.
The stubborn resistance of four experienced Proteas batsmen in a tense final session on day five earned the tourists' a second dig score of 5-166 and ensured the match ended in a draw.
Trailing by 115 after double-centurion Michael Clarke declared Australia's first innings closed at 5-565 earlier on Tuesday, South Africa's top order blunted a daring assault from the hosts' attack.
Led by a brilliant opening spell from James Pattinson (2-58), Australia knocked over opener Alviro Petersen (five) and Graeme Smith (23) early to put South Africa on the ropes at 2-55.
At that stage they were effectively three down because of the ruptured Achilles tendon injury to JP Duminy and Australia were threatening to break the game open.
However, Hashim Amla (38) and Jacques Kallis (49) - who anchored South Africa's first innings - steadied the ship with a firm partnership.
Nerves returned when they both holed out, leaving the tourists in murky waters at 4-139 - but AB de Villiers (29 not out) and Jacques Rudolph (11) held Australia at bay long enough to rule out the possibility of a result.
It all could have ended very differently for Australia following a parade of close shaves earlier on day five.
Pattinson should have had more than just the two wickets and very nearly dismissed Amla on two occasions.
He only had himself to blame for the first failure - Amla played a thick inside edge onto his own stumps just before the lunch break, when the Proteas were 1-31.
But while the Australians celebrated, umpire Asad Rauf checked for a no-ball and video assessment showed his front foot was over the crease.
It was a heartbreaking moment but it failed to shake Pattinson, and he again went close to sending Amla packing.
Rauf turned down a massive caught behind shout in the fourth over of the second session, prompting Clarke to use the first of his two DRS referrals.
Footage showed the ball missed the outside edge and Amla lived to fight another day.
Australia's second review was completely wasted on another supposed nick to the wicketkeeper off Ben Hilfenhaus (0-26) - but Kallis was safe by a good few inches.
And the home side were kicking themselves on two further occasions when Kallis and Amla survived enthusiastic Australian appeals - though a referral upstairs would not have changed either decision.
The second Test of this three-match series begins at Adelaide Oval on November 22.
First Posted 13 November, 2012 6:09PM AEST
