South Africa level ODI series against Australia, win 2nd ODI by 3 wickets
South Africa level ODI series against Australia
By Devarchit Varma
Nov 16, 2014
South Africa made heavy weather of a small chase as they levelled their ongoing five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia, as they won the second game by three wickets at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground in Perth, on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 155 to win, South Africa achieved the target in 27.4 overs, but they did make this small chase look like an uphill task. Morne Morkel registered his best figures in 50-over cricket, returning with the figures of 8-0-21-5 as he helped South Africa bowl out Australia for a modest total of 154 in 41.4 overs.
AB de Villiers missed out on a half-century as he was dismissed for 48, and Rilee Rossouw scored a quick 30 as a 43-run stand for the third wicket revived South African chase. On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket but his effort went in vain as the tourists managed to go past the finish line despite the hiccups.
South Africa made a shaky start as they lost their openers Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla cheaply. While de Kock was the first man to be dismissed in the second over for four, Amla, playing his 100th ODI for the African country could not celebrate the occasion with a big knock. The right-handed opener was removed by Mitchell Johnson in the seventh over of the innings.
Du Plessis and Rossouw teamed up to take South Africa ahead, but the latter’s dismissal in the 14th over again pegged back South Africa. The left-handed batsman, who cracked six fours on the off side, batted with lot of flair to race to 30. He looked good for a half-century, but Glenn Maxwell claimed his wicket.
The setback did not have a great effect on South Africa as their two experienced campaigners, de Villiers and du Plessis teamed up to add 49 runs for the fourth wicket. Both South African batsmen did not take any risk and neither scored runs at a fast rate.
Australia bounced back in the contest when Hazlewood removed du Plessis (19) and Farhaan Behardien in space of two balls, which did affect the South African chase a little. The tourists did have some commotion after that, but Australia’s challenge was never strong enough to scare them. South Africa managed a nervous three-wicket win in the 28th over.
Earlier in the day, Morkel claimed five wickets to help South Africa bowl out Australia for a paltry total of 154 in 41.1 0vers. Mitchell Marsh‘s half-century was the only bright spot for the hosts as they suffered a batting collapse against a disciplined South African pace attack led by Morkel. Marsh smashed three fours and two sixes to score a fighting 67 off 88 balls.
Morkel registered his only second five-wicket haul in ODIs, and also his best bowling figures in the format. He looked in perfect rhythm Morkel returned with the figures of 8-0-21-5. South Africa’s star speedster Dale Steyn too had success, as he snared the wickets of Marsh, Aaron Finch and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Australian skipper George Bailey’s decision to bat after winning the toss went terribly wrong as his side failed to produce an inspired batting show which they did in the first ODI at the same venue two days ago. Australia lost a wicket in the first over itself, and South Africa did not let go of the opportunity.
Brief scores:
Australia 154 in 41.4 overs (George Bailey 25, Mitchell Marsh 67; Morne Morkel 5 for 21, Dale Steyn 3 for 35) lost to South Africa 157 for 7 in 27.4 overs (Rilee Rossouw 30, AB de Villiers 48; Josh Hazlewood 5 for 31) by 3 wickets.
Man of the match: Morne Morkel