SYDNEY, Jan 5: Rain hit South Africa’s hopes of squaring their series with Australia after only 20 overs of play were possible on the fourth day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The Proteas, who lost last week’s second Melbourne Test by 184 runs after the first match was drawn, advanced from an overnight four for one to 94 for three when rain washed out play after tea.

South Africa have only a 186-run lead heading into Friday’s fifth day and more showers are forecast, almost certainly condemning the match to a draw.

In that eventuality, Australia will win the home series and renew Test hostilities in South Africa in another series next month.

“We are in the hands of the weather. We just want to give ourselves the best chance of winning the game,” South African pace spearhead Shaun Pollock said.

“If there’s a full 97 overs tomorrow we want to try and get as many runs as quickly as we can and give ourselves the right amount of overs to bowl them out.”

Pollock said playing to avoid defeat on Friday would still mean a lost series. “We’ve got to come out tomorrow and give ourselves a chance to win the game.”

When play was abandoned for the day at 5:15 pm (0615 GMT) first-innings centurions Jacques Kallis (14) and Ashwell Prince (0) were at the wicket.

The Proteas lost the wickets of skipper Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday.

Gibbs was run out for 67 in a mix-up with Kallis over a quick single. He was beaten back to the non-striker’s end by a direct throw from Brad Hodge.

Gibbs, who scored 94 in the first innings of the second Test loss, had boosted the Proteas’ run-rate — striking 11 boundaries in his lively 74-ball knock.

Shortly afterwards rain sent the players from the field for an early tea and there was no further play.

Smith had been offered the bad light by the umpires after just four balls of the day’s play, but chose to bat on. He paid the price three balls later when he was out for five.

Smith played across the line from Glenn McGrath and was hit high above the knee roll but was given out. The dismissal completed a disappointing series for Smith, who has had scores of 34, 30, 22, 25, 39 and five.

It left the South Africans on six for two, but Gibbs and Kallis steadied the innings with a 86-run partnership in 91 minutes.

Gibbs had a ‘life’ on 34 when he was put down by Shane Warne at first slip off McGrath. Warne got his left hand to the low chance but the ball did not stick.

Scoreboard

South Africa (1st innings) 451 for 9 declared (A. Prince 119, J. Kallis 111; B. Lee 3-82)

Australia (1st innings) 359 (R. Ponting 120, A. Gilchrist 86; A. Nel 4-81)

South Africa (2nd innings) (4 for 1 overnight)

G. Smith lbw b McGrath 5

AB de Villiers lbw b Lee 1

H. Gibbs run out (Hodge) 67

J. Kallis not out 14

A. Prince not out 0

Extras (lb4, w1, nb2) 7

Total (3 wkts, 22 overs) 94

Fall of wkts: 1-4, 2-6, 3-92

Bowling: McGrath 11-2-41-1 (1nb), Lee 10-3-48-1 (1nb), Warne 1-0-1-0 (1w)

Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Aleem Dar (PAK)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).—Agencies