SYDNEY (Reuters)
South Africa were held to a draw by New South Wales on Sunday in their final warm-up before the second Test against Australia starting in Melbourne on Wednesday.

When stumps were drawn half an hour early on the fourth and final day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, NSW were 135 for 2 in their second innings, 248 short of an unlikely victory target of 383. Openers Brett Van Deinsen (61) and Greg Mail (54) both scored half-centuries for NSW in a first-wicket stand of 101 before falling to Lance Klusener shortly before the close.

Although there was little prospect of a result, South African captain Shaun Pollock declared his team's second innings at 269 for 5 before tea to give his fringe bowlers another chance to press for Test selection. Most interest was centred on the performance of veteran paceman Allan Donald, but he failed to make any inroads, conceding 27 runs from four expensive overs to finish the match without a single wicket.

South Africa's batsmen also failed to make the most of their final opportunity for match practice before the Melbourne Test, adding 157 runs for the loss of four wickets to the overnight 112 for 1 when Pollock declared. Pollock finished unbeaten on 36 with first innings centurion Boeta Dippenaar on 31 after the tourists had lost four wickets for 11 runs before lunch.

NSW leg spinner Stuart MacGill did the damage, once again showing up South Africa's deficiencies against quality slow bowling by adding four wickets to his first innings haul of five. MacGill collected three of the last four wickets, including two in the final over before lunch, as the Proteas collapsed from 190 for 1, to boost his chances of being named in the Australian team for the third Test at Sydney.

South Africa began the day well enough with Gary Kirsten and Jacques Rudolph adding 78 to the overnight total of 112 for 1 but then things suddenly fell apart. MacGill made the breakthrough when he dismissed opener Kirsten for 88 before Mark Higgs removed Klusener for nought, the South African allrounder's second duck of the match.

MacGill then dismissed Rudolph for 28 and Justin Ontong without scoring in the final over before lunch to reach the break with figures of four for 56. Pollock and Rudolph added a quick 68 before the declaration allowed the South African bowlers a last chance to push for selection in the second Test but only Klusener made any impression.

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