Parnell, Theron hold nerve to level series
Chasing 148 against Australia, South Africa were at one point reeling at 84 for 7 but then came the superb rescue act from Wayne Parnell and Rusty Theron as the duo put on a unbeaten 54 in less than 5 overs to seal the match and thus level the T20 series for South Africa after Australia had emerged victorious in the first match.
The day belonged to the newbies as Mitchell Marsh carried Australia to a respectable total with a late charge but South Africa’s young crop did not lose the cool as Parnell and Theron overhauled the target with five balls to spare.When Heino Kuhn was dismissed in the 15th over, the hosts needed 64 runs from 32 deliveries with just three wickets in the hand. First Bollinger was carted for two boundaries in one over before Parnell got stuck into Steve O’Keefe, looting 18 runs for the 18th over. That definitely turned the game on its head as that brought down the requirement to just 19 from 12 deliveries. However, only seven of those were needed with Theron hitting the winning shot- a six over cow-corner.
The dramatic comeback apart, South Africa were put under pressure from the very start by some aggressive fast bowling the Australian bowlers upfront. Hashim Amla once again disappointed as Bollinger cleaned him in the first over before the impressive Cummins delivered a double-blow removing Collin Ingram and JP Duminy in the same over. Although, Graeme Smith and Johan Botha tried to resurrect the innings with scores of 24 and 34 respectively, Australia were on top until the young brigade took charge.
Earlier, the good work of the South African bowlers who put tabs on Australia’s scoring through a disciplined bowling effort, was undone by a last over blitz from the debutant Mitchell Marsh. Lonwabo Tsotsobe’s economical spell had put the visitors in some strife but Mitchell blasted three maximums in the 20th over to lend some respectability to the score that read 147 for 8.
After electing to bat on a good Wanderers track, Australia lost opener David Warner in the second over for second consecutive duck. The aggressive left hander after a stellar performance in the Champions League has so far failed to live up to the billing. Mathew Wade who had to open in place of injured Shane Watson didn’t last long, removed by Tsotsobe for 10. With both the openers back in the hut for little, Australia needed some sort of consolidation and Shaun Marsh steadied the ship with a 23-ball 26. But, Shaun and David Hussey were dismissed in quick succession as South Africa retained control at the half-way stage of the innings.
Meanwhile, Australian skipper Craig White had announced his arrival at the crease with a boundary and six off successive deliveries and gave the impression that it might be his day. Even though, Steven Smith too departed cheaply, White kept the score board moving with crucial boundaries before Wayne Parnell ran him out for 26-ball 39. After 15 overs, Australia had managed only 95 for 5, the main reason for the slow progress being a superb spell from left armer Tsotsobe who finished with figures of 4-0-11-2.
With wickets at regular wickets preventing brisk runs, Australia were in desperate need of a late charge and it came at the fag end of the innings. Nineteen year old debutant Mitchell Marsh teed off with a six over long on but the fireworks c happened in the last over bowled by Morne Morkel. A full toss was carted over the bowler’s head followed by an attractive inside out and a full blooded swish off a length ball gave the Australian innings much needed impetus. Although, Marsh was bowled off the last ball but the 21-ball 26 had lifted Australia to 147 for 8.
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