All-round South Africa level series
Thanks to an all-round effort, South Africa defeated listless Australia by 80 in the second match of three-match ODI series played at Port-Elizabeth. The lop-sided victory means that the series is tied 1-1 after Australia had won the opening game.
Chasing a mammoth target of 303, the visitors could manage only 223 in the allotted fifty overs losing all their ten wickets as South Africa were brilliant with the ball well backed by some quality fielding show. Barring opener David Warner’s 97-ball 74 laced with half a dozen fours and Micheal Hussey’s 37, none of the Aussie batsmen could make a substantial score resulting in a heavy defeat.
All of the home team bowlers were terrific defending the target with Morne Morkel emerging as the star performer. The tall pacer took four wickets and gave away only 22 runs in his quota of ten overs with Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe claiming a couple of wickets each. Off-spinner Johan Botha too bowled well bagging a wicket and conceding only 44 in his ten.For Australia, Warner and Hussey eating up lot of deliveries and Steve Smith’s very slow 26 during the big chase didn’t help the matters. When the duo was batting, asking rate mounted considerably and with South Africa bowling and fielding as well they did, it was all over for Australia in the middle overs.
After opting to bat first, South Africa lost their skipper Hashim Amla first ball to Doug Bollinger. But senior fellows Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis put on 142 with former scoring 57 and the latter contributing elegant 76. Kallis’ 88-ball knock was punctuated with seven fours and couple of glorious sixes and six fours were hit by the former skipper Smith in his 69-ball stay at the crease.
After losing both Kallis and Smith and Faf de Plessis in a quick succession, JP Duminy and David Miller hit another century run stand to drive the hosts forward. The all left hand combination collected quick 107 with Duminy ceding centerstage for young Miller. Miller hit six fours and a six on his way to a 51-ball 59 and Duminy’s well paced 56 came from 58 balls hitting two fours and as many sixes.
For the tourists, left arm spinner Xavier Doherty was the pick of the bowlers with his ten overs producing a wicket and going for only 42 when rest of the pack was taken for runs.
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