23 January, 2009

Herschelle Gibbs A brilliant exhibition of late hitting from Albie Morkel has sealed a comprehensive three-wicket victory for South Africa in game three of the Commonwealth Bank Series at the SCG on Friday.

Chasing 270 for victory after New South Welshman David Warner blasted a memorable 69 off 60 deliveries at the top of the Australian innings, Herschelle Gibbs (64) and Jacques Kallis (60) laid the platform for victory before Morkel again took advantage of the batting powerplay.

Having arrived at the crease needing 60 runs from as many balls, the clean-hitting lefty struck a whirlwind 40 off 22 to guide the tourists home with 19 balls to spare to clinch a 2-1 series lead.

Mark Boucher also played a vital role remaining unbeaten on 31 after coming to the crease with the game in the balance before the Proteas cruised to 7-270.

Skipper Johan Botha, who kept the visitors in the contest with a superb spell of bowling returning figures of 3-32 from 10 overs, fittingly struck the winning runs.

Gibbs' half-century gave South Africa the start it was craving as the veteran opener blasted 10 boundaries and a six on his way to a rapid 64 off 52 deliveries.

Both openers received a life in the first over of the run-chase as first Ricky Ponting dropped Hashim Amla, before David Hussey put down a simple chance at backward point to let Gibbs off the hook and deny Shaun Tait (1-55) an early breakthrough.

Amla's stay came to an abrupt end with his score on 13 when a horrible mix-up between the wickets gifted Australia the breakthrough.

Gibbs, meanwhile, continued to look threatening blasting Mitchell Johnson (1-71) over the extra-cover fence, while Jacques Kallis was content to nudge the ball around bringing up 10,000 runs in one-day internationals along the way.

Momentum turned when Johnson removed Gibbs who edged to Michael Hussey at slip before Bracken (1-29) continued the revival removing De Villiers cheaply, also caught by Hussey at first slip.

Australia's chances were further strengthened when Nathan Hauritz bowled JP Duminy for nine, and when Tait had Kallis caught behind the Australians were right back in it.

Boucher and Neil McKenzie (27) set about rescuing the innings, putting on 46 runs before McKenzie was caught short of his ground attempting to steal a run on the arm of Warner.

But Morkel, who was not without luck as Tait dropped a diving chance with his score on 10, was up to the task.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Australia appeared on course for a mammoth total but a steady flow of wickets saw the hosts bowled out for 269 in the final over.

The opening hour of play belonged to Warner who slammed six boundaries and two sixes to set the SCG alight and hand his side a dream start.


Warner's attack began in the fifth over blasting spearhead Dale Steyn (2-47) for 15 runs.

The visitors turned to Kallis (0-38) to try and stem the flow of runs but Warner showed the veteran all-rounder little respect sending his first delivery to the mid-wicket fence.

With momentum on their side the hosts opted to take their batting powerplay in the 17th over forcing Botha to bring Steyn back into the attack.

Despite the loss of both Warner and Shaun Marsh (43), the hosts made good use of the powerplay but the contest quickly turned in the visitors' favour when Australia lost 3-23 in a damaging six-over period.