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SYDNEY, Dec 5 (AFP): 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 cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground 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.
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 Thursday.
Gibbs threw away his wicket when he 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.
It left the South Africans on six for two, but Gibbs and Kallis steadied the innings with a 86-run partnership in 91 minutes.
McGrath was given an official reprimand after being reported by the match umpires for "using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture," under the International Cricket Council's code of conduct.
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