KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - Graeme Smith batted with a fractured hand in one of cricket's bravest acts but narrowly failed to save his side from defeat as Australia claimed victory with 10 balls to spare on the final day of the third test.
Mitchell Johnson (2-49) bowled Smith for three
in the 115th over of the innings and the Proteas were dismissed for 272 chasing 376 to win.
Paceman Peter Siddle took 3-54 after his career-best 5-59 in South Africa's first innings.
Smith, who suffered a fractured left hand in South Africa's first innings, removed his plaster cast and walked out to bat at 257-9 with 8.2 overs remaining, to generous applause from the SCG crowd.
Also troubled by a right-elbow tendon injury which he has carried for several months, Smith faced 17 deliveries and batted for 29 minutes.
Tailender Makhaya Ntini made a heroic 28 not out.
"Mate what a game, what a series," Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke said.
"It's fantastic to get that result."
Australia's 103-run win has saved the home side from the embarrassment of being swept at home in a series for the first time in 122 years and also allowed Ricky Ponting's men to maintain their grip of test cricket's top ranking.
Hashim Amla (59) and AB De Villiers (56) scored half-centuries for the Proteas.
Debutant quick Doug Bollinger got the ball rolling for Australia on day five when Neil McKenzie was caught at gully for 27 at 68-2.
The dismissal of Jacques Kallis (4) - caught and bowled by debutant Andrew McDonald after the decision was referred to TV umpire Rod Tucker - was a massive blow for the tourists at 91-3.
Six overs later off-spinner Nathan Hauritz removed anchorman Amla caught at short leg.
De Villiers and Jean-Paul Duminy added 56 before the left-hander was lbw to Johnson for 16 at 166-5 after lunch.
Mark Boucher (4) missed a leg-side full toss from Siddle to fall lbw in a dubious decision by Sri Lankan umpire Asoka De Silva.
Siddle struck again when De Villiers chopped a ball onto his stumps at 190-7. The 24-year-old kept attacking the stumps on the low-playing pitch and had Paul Harris lbw (6) shortly after tea.
Ninth-wicket pairing Ntini and Dale Steyn (28) added 55 in 73 minutes.
Australia will host Twenty20 internationals against South Africa at the MCG on Sunday and the Gabba on Tuesday.
Siddle won the man-of-the-match award for his eight-wicket haul.
His fellow Victorian McDonald provided good support with his 2-32 from 16 overs and NSW quick Bollinger (2-53) also took two wickets.
The courageous Smith was named man of the series after leading South Africa to their first test-series win on Australian soil and scoring 326 runs at 65.20.
- AAP
