The firstOne-DayInternationalbetween South Africa and Australia was played at Super Sport Park, Centurion on Friday and saw massive runs being scored in the first innings. South Africa won the toss and elected to field first on a wicket which looked conducive for batting. Australia, after a promising start lost the momentum in the middle but George Bailey and John Hastings ensured that they got the job done in the end. South African bowlers somehow cut loose in the end as Australia managed to post a fighting total of 294 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs on the board. South Africa have a task in hand but looking at the inexperience Australian pace attack, one can expect a thrilling run chase at Centurion. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: SOUTH AFRICA vs AUSTRALIA, 1st ODI
In the start, Steyn looked right on the money from the very first over and did nothing wrong whatsoever initially. But Australian batsmen started attacking him and took him for runs after first two overs. David Warner started off well; he flashed over point for a boundary to Kagiso Rabada in his very first over and gave a sign of his aggressive intent. Steyn steamed in and got the new ball to move but wasn’t able to chip any wicket. Finch after a slow start, played a beautiful shot to Steyn for a boundary, the ball initially looked in the air but was reasonably away from the bowler to grab it, this was also his getaway stroke.
Warner didn’t hold back and offered bat to anything, which was pitched short or bowled wide. He cut Rabada for a boundary in the fourth over and earned his third boundary of the innings. Rabada replied with a deadly Yorker but Warner was smart enough to get his bat down on time. Warner flicked Steyn for a six in the fifth over and the pressure was now mounting on the hosts to scalp an early wicket and break this dangerous looking partnership. Warner played a splendid shot over Steyn’s head in the seventh over and started garnering runs at a brisk pace. He looked unstoppable with the new ball and continued to build pressure on the hosts.
Wayne Parnell was introduced in the attack and was rightly so, as he got rid of David Warner in his first over. Warner was deceived by the pace as the ball landed in Rabada’s safe hands at mid-off for a well played 40. Smith walked in to bat and looked good in the middle. Finch took charge and started shifting gears and was equally supported by Smith from the other end. Just when things were going out of control for South Africa, Andile Phehlukwayo struck and got rid of Finch for 33. The decision was referred to the third umpire, which turned out to be a controversial one and left Finch furious.
Moments later, Smith missed a straighter one by Phehlukwayo and was given leg before by the on field umpire. Smith referred it to the third umpire but it was plumb and dead right, as a result of which he had to walk back eight. Mitchell Marsh joined George Bailey and showed some counterattacking by taking on the pumped South African bowlers. He looked comfortable and started dealing in boundaries but didn’t manage to continue his good run for long. Marsh was dismissed by Phehlukwayo for 31.
Bailey shifted gears in the middle and broke the shackles with couple of big hits to Farhan Behardien and Imran Tahir respectively in 22nd and 23rd over. Travis Head and Bailey slowly stitched a match-winning partnership between them. But Head lost his control when he tried to shimmy down the wicket and take on Imran Tahir, but the latter outfoxed him with a googly. He had to return back to the pavilion for 18. Matthew Wade would consider himself unlucky as a direct him from David Miller brought an end to his innings. Australia were in all sorts of trouble at the moment with Bailey firm at the other end. They had many overs to be played out when John Hastings accompanied Bailey.
The duo confronted South African bowlers with precision and not only rotated the strike but kept hitting odd boundaries. They accounted for 79 runs between them with Hastings scoring a half-century and a much needed one. Hastings scored six boundaries and couple of sixes to steer Australia in a commanding position. He was eventually dismissed by Phehlukwayo for 51. Bailey played a determined knock and was the dark horse of the side with his knock of 74 runs. Bailey’s knock included seven boundaries and two sixes.
Australia somehow managed to get 294 on board, which is certainly below par looking at the way they were placed in the 40th over. They will have a task in hand in restricting the hosts under 294 in their own den and on a wicket, which looked good for batting. Australia aren’t playing their established bowlers and have given the young guns an opportunity, which means they lack experience.
South African bowlers bounced back well to restrict Australia under 300 as at one stage 350 looked on the cards. Phehlukwayo bowled extremely well and picked four wickets in the game. He got the key wickets of Finch, Smith, Marsh and Hastings and broke the spine of Australia batting. Steyn leaked runs but bowled well in the death overs and pulled things back.He also had two wickets to his name as he got rid of George Bailey and Adam Zampa. Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir also chipped in with one wickets each. Rabada remained wicketless in his spell of 10 overs.
South Africa have the batting to chase the total down but without the services of AB de Villiers, it will be a task. Australian bowlers need early wickets to put South Africa under pressure as containing them on this wicket won’t be an option.
Brief scores:
Australia 294 for 9 (George Bailey 74, John Hastings 51; Andile Phehlukwayo 4 for 44 , Dale Steyn 2 for 65) vs South Africa.
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