Playing his 289th match and with piles of runs,ten thousand plus, around his name South African all rounder Jacques Kallis joined Gibbs. The duo put together a partnership of just 22 off 48 balls before Gibbs lost his concentration and wicket to Johnson. He was caught behind by Haddin. Johnson was the pick of the bowlers until then with figures of 5 overs 2 maidens and just 7 runs for his 2 scalps. In the company of AB De velliers, Kallis cruised the sinking South African ship past the 100 mark.
Kallis suddenly uped the anti and powered South Africa past the 150 scoring almost at a run a ball. De velliers also played some excellent shots. The duo added 114 off a 124 balls before Kallis(70) pulled a short delivery straight into the hands of Hopes fielding at midwicket. A surprise scalp for Brett Geeves. 34 runs later De velliers(80) lost his wicket to a leading edge skier comfortably held by Hauritz at extra cover saw South Africa at 198-4 in the 41st over, just when South Africa had called the batting power play. Duminy(32) in partnership with Albie Morkel added 32 runs in 20 balls before he was held in the covers trying to make the best use of the powerplay.
Morkel (29) and Boucher(28) added 53 in 5 overs to take South Africa to 283 before Morkel lost his off stump to Johnson. Merwe scored a six off the remaining 4 balls as South Africa reached a score of 289 for 6 at the end of 50 overs. Johnson was the stand out bowler for his effort of 4-34 in his 10 overs.
Australia started off cautiously, both Clarke and Haddin played defensive shots to keep wickets intact as Steyn and Parnell whizzed past their outside edges quite a number of times. Haddin scored 15 off 34 balls before he was out run out by Duminy in what was a quick single.
Ponting joined Clarke with Australia at 30-1 in 9.4 overs. Ponting played cautiously but also dismissed the bad balls to the boundary with confidence. Clarke picked up his strike rate as the duo took Australia past the 50 in 15 overs. It looked like a strategy by South Africa to bowl at the legs of Ponting as the spinner Botha bowled quite a few deliveries on the legs of the batsman. Ponting eventually lost his cool as he tried to force a shot coming down the track popping a simple catch to Botha. He was out for 20 leaving Australia at 66-2 in 17.5 overs. Van De Marwe was called into the attack and immediately he picked Clarke out bowled to a classical left arm spinner delivery. It pitched and turn.
Micheal Hussey then lost his wicket LBW to merwe as Australia received their 4th blow at the score of 83. It was all spin, Duminy in his first over picked the in-form David Hussey caught at long on. Australia(114-5, 30.2 Overs) never looked like getting home with the last recognized pair of Ferguson and Hopes at the crease still requiring 176 off 118 balls.
Both the batsman stitched together a decent partnership and mixed caution with aggression to take Australia past the 200 run mark. 45th over of the match, Fergusson(63) lost his wicket to van de merwe caught by Develliers at long on. Johnson(9) soon followed out run out to a combination of Duminy and Boucher. All door were shut as Hopes finished not out leaving Australia 25 runs short off target.
Kallis was declared man of the match for his all round performance with the bat and the ball. It was the spinner who made the difference, Botha and Duminy kept things tight, while Van de Merwe chipped in with 3 wickets. With Spinners doing well, South Africa now look a complete side, a team that can win in any condition. The next match will be played at centurion on the 13th of April.
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Kunal Janu
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