Fri, 28 Oct 2011 - South Africa vs Australia, Australia Tour of South Africa 2011-12, 3rd ODI

Australia pip SA to clinch series

Australia overcame regular hiccups to chase down a target of 223 successfully and clinch the three match ODI series 2-1. Having restricted the home team South Africa to 222- made possible by fifties from skipper Hashim Amla and all-rounder Jacques Kallis- Australia reached the target in 47.3 overs to win the third ODI by three wickets at Kingsmead Durban. During its chase Australia had lost half their side for 156, but, Michael Hussey showed his worth yet again seeing his through hitting an unbeaten 45.

Most of the Aussie batsmen got starts but lost their wickets at regular intervals to keep the hosts interested. Part timer spinner JP Dumminy and Johan Botha did dent Australia’s progress in the middle overs but South Africa were always going to be short by 20-25 runs or so. Shane Watson had done enough at the top hammering a blistering 49 to give Hussey and co. room to reach the target to their own pace.

Watson cracked flurry of boundaries upfront as Morne Morkel removed tentative David Warner for 10 to have Australia 38 for one at the end of seventh over. Watson though didn’t get bogged down motoring to 49 with the help of half a dozen fours and a six. Australia were racing along with 78 for one in the 14th over before Kallis struck to get Watson chop on one short of his fifty. Botha then boosted his side dismissing Ricky Ponting caught and bowled to reduce Australia to 82 for three.

Skipper Michael Clarke and Shaun Marsh did resurrect their side with a steady 48 run stand. There was nothing flashy about the duo just a sensible approach to the batting and carrying the innings forward. Duminy’s first ball of the night disturbed Clarke’s stumps for a 39-ball 26 with the help of five fours before following the suit in his comeback spell to have Marsh dismissed for a 30 off 55. The Dumminy strikes got South Africa right back into the game before Hussey held the fort for his side.

The left hander ceded centerstage for Brad Haddin’s cameo that saw him hit 25 punctuated with two fours and many sixes out of crucial 38 run stand. Barring an occasional aggressive stroke, Hussey was the Hussey we know at the crease: tapping, guiding, nudging, dabbing and steering the ball into gaps for some important runs.

Haddin wanted to finish the game quickly but his endeavour proved to be undoing. The wicketkeeper slammed a short delivery from Dale Steyn straight to deep cover giving South Africa a window of hope.

It didn’t affect Hussey much as Mr. Cricket mentored Mitchell Johnson and Pat Cummins in two vital little stands and did the formalities with a thumping pull shot. His match winning 45 came off 64 balls in which he hit a six and a four.

Earlier Australian bowlers did well to limit the home team to a gettable score after Amla and Kallis laid a solid platform. Thanks to Amla and Kallis’ quality batting, South Africa were well placed at 117 for in the 26th over but could score only 105 in the remaining 24 as Australian bowlers made life difficult for the batsmen.

After opting to bat first, Amla gave a fitting start to the decider. The wristy batsmen followed a rasping square cut in the first over with four creamy boundaries off Pat Cummins as South Africa raced to 22 in first two overs. The momentum couldn’t be sustained though with next 11 overs yielding only 34. Amla’s partner Graeme Smith struggled to keep going at a good pace consuming 36 for his scratchy 19 before slog sweeping Xavier Doherty for Hussey to take a stunner a deep midwicket.

In walked with score at 58 for one and run machine showed his aggressive intents soon. In Doherty’s next over after taking wicket, Kallis hit him for a lovely on-drive before dumping the left arm spinner for a huge six over long-on boundary. The duo appeared to calm at the crease looking for ones and two with Kallis showing aggression every now and then.

Amla reached his first fifty as South African skipper tapping his 68th ball to leg side for a single. But he went soon though thanks to Cummins’ sharp piece of fielding that caught Amla short of ground taking a quick single. His departure for a 72-ball 52 laced with seven fours ended a steady of 59 between the two.

Kallis continued on his run making notching his 84th ODI fifty off 63 balls. He though slowed down after leaching the landmark before losing patience to throw his wicket away. His 74-ball tenure for 54 was punctuated with three fours and a couple of sixes and ended with score at 141 in the 34th over.

Dumminy and Faf de Plessis failed to score at a good pelt as batting powerplay- from 36th to 40th over- yielded only 21 runs with the help of two fours. Ending the powerplay at 174 for 3, South Africa could add just 48 in the last ten overs losing wickets in search of quick runs as well. Faf went for a 28-ball 21 while Duminy’s 35 came off 58 balls.

For Australia Doherty and Mitchell Johnson were star performers with the ball claiming a brace each and striking at crucial moments to puncture the home team’s progress.