Du Plessis scores ton as South Africa draw second Test

ADELAIDE (Reuters): Faf du Plessis scored an inspirational century on debut as South Africa completed a morale-boosting draw in the second test on the fifth and final day of against Australia on Monday.

In an atmosphere of unrelenting tension, the 28-year-old du Plessis was grit personified as he carried his bat for more than seven hours, compiling an unbeaten 110 and steering the Proteas to safety on a stifling day of heat at Adelaide Oval.

Lionhearted paceman Peter Siddle captured two wickets in the last hour to leave South Africa wobbling at 240-8, but du Plessis and Morne Morkel saw out the drama-filled final overs to leave the series tied at 0-0 after the drawn first Test in Brisbane.

The third and final Test in the series starts in Perth on Friday.