Australia vs. South Africa is a marquee event. Very cruelly, however, this clash of titans has been limited to merely three ODIs and two Tests, rendering what should have been a full banquet down to a blink-and-you'll-miss-it snack. Fortunately, both South Africa and Australia have played hard, each claiming victories to take the ODI series down to its third and deciding game.
Good Start for South Africa, But Australia Slightly Ahead
Despite failing in the previous game, South African captain Hashim Amla made the most of winning the toss and choosing to bat first, slapping Pat Cummins for 16 runs in only the second over of the innings. Amla and Graeme Smith put on 58 for the first wicket when Australia made their first breakthrough, Smith falling to Xavier Doherty for a slow 19. A big over from Amla and Jacques Kallis ensured that the run rate stayed over 4.00 an over, but the Australian bowlers did well to control the scoring.
Amla reached his 50* shortly after South Africa passed 100 in the 23rd over. Just as he and Kallis started to up the tempo again, Amla was run out for 52, and Australia stopped the host's momentum at 117/2. Jacques Kallis reached his own half-century shortly afterwards, but was the third wicket to fall at 141/3, caught off Xavier Doherty for 54. Jean-Paul Duminy and Francois du Plessis took the score over 150, but the run rate continued to linger in the low 4.00s.
Australia In Control As South Africa Post A Modest Score
Australia removed du Plessis for 21 (185/4), and continued to squeeze South Africa. Duminy took 52 balls to hit his first boundary, as the 200 came up in only the 45th over. There was to be no late burst from the South Africans, as the Australian bowlers dictated terms right up to the end of the innings, conceding just four runs in the last over. South Africa finished on an under-par 222/6.
Watson Powers Australia's Chase
While Shane Watson started confidently for Australia, David Warner made only 10 before he was caught behind off Morne Morkel. Australia 38/1, but they kept going. Warner successfully reviewed an LBW decision against him off Morkel, before he plundered him for 20 runs off an over. Australia raced to 65/1 off just 9 overs, the required run rate already just 3.85 an over.
South Africa Strike to Stay Alive
Just as the Aussies were cruising, Watson played a Jacques Kallis delivery onto his stumps for 49, and Ricky Ponting went the next over, caught & bowled by Johan Botha. From 78/1, Australia found themselves at 82/3, and South Africa were in with a sniff of a chance. Michael Clarke and Shaun Marsh stabilized, taking Australia past 100 and keeping the required run rate well in control.
Jean-Paul Duminy made the breakthrough for South Africa, bowling Clarke for 26 to make it 130/4. Marsh and Michael Hussey played cautiously, the required run rate now creeping back up to over 4.00 an over. Duminy struck again to send Marsh back for 30, and at 156/5, the game was open. Brad Haddin struck some quick boundaries to keep Australia ahead, but his wicket for 23 meant South Africa weren't done yet. At 194/6, they had plenty of time to score the remaining 28 needed for victory, but only four wickets left.
Michael Hussey Does Another Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson shared a big over off Dale Steyn to bring the equation down to 11 runs needed off 36 balls. Even when Johnson fell to Jacques Kallis the next over, the hard work was done, and Hussey - cool as a cucumber on ice - sealed the game and the series for Australia with a 6. Michael Clarke lead his team to his third successive away series win as Australia made it home by 4 wickets.
Australia Do It Again
All in a all, a good (if short) series by two of the best cricket teams in the world. It was fitting that after both enjoyed comfortable victories in the first and second games, the third one was much tighter. It wasn't the epic contest that we were all hoping for, and it didn't quite go down to the wire, but South Africa fought well to make 222 seem like a tough score. Australia performed well with both bat and ball to keep the game in control, even when South Africa threatened to wrest it away.
Now the question becomes, after losing the ODI series, how will South Africa fare in the Tests? And, more ominously, if Australia could beat South Africa in South Africa - does this mean Australia are back?
3rd ODI:
- South Africa: 222/6 (Jacques Kallis 54, Mitchell Johnson 10-0-37-2) in 50 overs, at 4.44 runs per over
- Australia: 227/7 (Shane Watson 49, Jean-Paul Duminy 7-1-29-2) in 47.3 overs, at 4.77 runs per over
- Australia win by 3 wickets and win the 3-game series 2-1
- Man of the Match: Shane Watson
- Man of the Series: Michael Hussey
Scorecard at Cricinfo
Michael Perera - The only rule in writing is honesty. If you're honest, the words will write themselves.
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