Australia A, Proteas draw tour match - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

South Africa drew their three-day tour match with Australia A at the SCG on Sunday, but will be pleased with their only practice game before Friday's first Test at the Gabba.

Highlighting their attitude, the visitors' two most impressive batsmen in the match, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla, both retired soon after reaching their half centuries to give teammates a chance to bat.

The tourists then declared their innings at 6-277, 203 runs shy of Australia A's first-innings total of 7(dec)-480, satisfied with the amount of time in the middle for their batsmen.

That gave them 27 overs on Sunday afternoon to pepper the Australia A top order with their world-class pace attack, but both captains agreed to end the match an hour early with the hosts 1-13.

Dale Steyn had Liam Davis caught behind for a duck, ending a miserable match for the opener, while Phil Hughes (one not out) and Rob Quiney (11 not out) safely navigated until the close of play.

On Saturday, Proteas' captain Smith fell on his sword after reaching 60, and Amla followed suit on Sunday, pulling the pin after chalking up 53 runs.

The tactic appeared to work, with Test certainties Jacques Rudolph (39), JP Duminy (31) and AB de Villiers (24) all getting starts and blowing out the cobwebs while fringe batsman Faf du Plessis hit an unbeaten 24.

Part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell added to his wicket of Alviro Petersen (38) the previous day by removing Rudolph just before tea.

The 24-year-old Victorian enticed an edge from Rudolph which was snapped up by John Hastings at first slip.

Maxwell returned the favour by taking the catch which ended de Villiers' innings off the bowling of economical paceman Hastings, who finished with figures of 1-32 off 23 overs.

Earlier, Australia A skipper Andrew McDonald made the first real breakthrough of the day when he had Duminy chopping onto his stumps for 31.

In Australia A's first innings, Steyn finished with 3-54 from 22 overs while his usually-reliable offsider, right-armer Vernon Philander (0-88), was outshone by back-up paceman Rory Kleinveldt, who took 2-60.

Legspinner Imran Tahir was expensive, taking 2-157.