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| January 16, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 15, 1426 |
South Africa draw first blood in dramatic finish
BRISBANE, Jan 15: South Africa drew first blood in the battle of the world’s two best one-day cricket teams after a late flourish by Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher handed them a five-wicket win over Australia in the tri-series match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Sunday.
In a finish tinged with drama, the two teams were taken off the ground by umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar after rain started falling with the South Africans needing just five runs to win with 10 balls remaining.
The covers were brought onto the ground but the players returned soon after to complete formalities after the victory target remained unchanged.
It was a just reward for the South Africans who had earlier restricted Australia to a modest 228 off 49.5 overs after destroying their top order batting. In reply they managed 231-5 off 48.5 overs.
The Proteas came into the match as slight underdogs following the host nation’s crushing win over Sri Lanka in the series opener on Friday and after losing key strike bowlers Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt and Makhaya Ntini to injury.
But veteran paceman Shaun Pollock stepped up to the plate to claim the first three Australian wickets, including openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich for ducks to finish with 3-30.
He was well supported by all-rounder Andrew Hall who took 3-43.
For a while it seemed like South Africa would struggle to chase down the runs, with some brilliant fielding by the Australians.
But Boucher and Kemp belted 17 runs off Brett Lee in the 46th over to help see their team home, with Boucher finishing unbeaten on 63 and Kemp not out on 29 in a 71-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Boeta Dippenaar also excelled with a patient 74 off 115 balls.
Earlier, Mike Hussey and Brett Lee rescued the innings with a 123-run partnership, setting a record for the highest seventh wicket stand in a One-day International by Australia.
Hussey top-scored with 73 off 124 balls, including five boundaries, while Lee chipped in with 57 off 128 deliveries.
Australia made a disastrous start with Gilchrist and Katich both making ducks. Ricky Ponting chipped in with 33 but the Proteas stayed in control by dismissing Damien Martyn (12), Andrew Symonds (9) and Michael Clarke (8) cheaply.
Hussey and Lee were both aided by poor South Africa fielding but when they fell in quick succession, the visitors looked to have regained the initiative.
Australia looked to be in with a chance of winning when they removed Graeme Smith (12), Jacques Kallis (no score), Herschelle Gibbs (16) and Ashwell Prince (19) before Dippenaar and Boucher swung the match back in South Africa’s favour.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA:
A.C. Gilchrist b Pollock 0
S.M. Katich c Smith b Pollock 0
R.T. Ponting c and b Zondeki 33
D.R. Martyn b Pollock 12
A. Symonds c Boucher b Hall 9
M.J. Clarke c Boucher b Hall 8
M.E.K. Hussey b Kruger 73
B. Lee run out 57
N.W. Bracken not out 7
S.R. Clark b Hall 15
G.D. McGrath run out 0
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-3, W-4, NB-4) 14
TOTAL (all out, 49.5 overs) 228
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-4, 3-29, 4-60, 5-64, 6-71, 7-194, 8-207, 9-228.
BOWLING: Pollock 10-2-30-3; Kruger 9-1-43-1 (4nb, 2w); Hall 9.5-1-43-3 (1w); Zondeki 10-2-63-1; Kallis 6-0-23-0 (1nb); Smith 5-0-19-0.
SOUTH AFRICA:
G.C. Smith c Katich b McGrath 12
H.H. Dippenaar run out 74
J.H. Kallis run out 0
H.H. Gibbs c Martyn b Bracken 16
A.G. Prince c Hussey b McGrath 19
M.V. Boucher not out 63
J.M. Kemp not out 29
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-9, W-5) 18
TOTAL (for five wkts, 48.5 overs) 231
FALL OF WKTS: 1-27, 2-27, 3-55, 4-125, 5-162.
DID NOT BAT: S.M. Pollock, A.J. Hall, M. Zondeki, G.J.P. Kruger.
BOWLING: Lee 10-1-47-0 (3w); McGrath 9-0-35-2; Bracken 8.5-1-37-1; Clark 10-0-41-0 (2w); Hopes 8-0-44-0; Symonds 3-0-14-0.
RESULT: South Africa won by five wickets.
UMPIRES: S.J.A. Taufel (Australia) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan).
TV UMPIRE: D.J. Harper (Australia).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Shaun Pollock.
NEXT MATCH: South Africa v Sri Lanka at Brisbane on Tuesday.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Australia –- J.R. Hopes for D.R. Martyn; South Africa –- J. Botha (unused).—Agencies
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