14 April, 2009

A fine century from Herschelle Gibbs led South Africa to a comfortable 61-run victory over Australia in the fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth and an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

Dale Steyn was the star with the ball, claiming 4-44, and was given good support by the spinners as the visitors were dismissed for 256 in pursuit of 318.

Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting all made half-centuries, but it was not enough as they fell well short.

The Australians began their chase promisingly with a 129-run opening partnership in just over 20 overs, before the introduction of spin changed the game.

Johan Botha (1-48) was first to strike, ending Haddin's 61-ball 78 when he had the wicketkeeper caught at long-on by Wayne Parnell.

Roelof van der Merwe (3-46) then claimed a triple blow by removing Clarke (50), Callum Ferguson (three) and Michael Hussey (two) to leave the visitors limping at 4-151.

David Hussey and Ponting tried to rescue the situation, putting on 37 before the former also perished, this time caught and bowled by Steyn for 20.

The Australian skipper decided to take the batting powerplay in the 41st over and his decision initially looked like a good one as he plundered Steyn for four boundaries, whilst also raising his half-century in 66 balls.

But he went for one shot too many off the final delivery and was caught by Albie Morkel at mid-wicket for 53.

With Ponting went Australia's last chance of winning and only Mitchell Johnson and James Hopes (31) briefly threatened before South Africa dismissed its opponents in 45.5 overs.

Earlier, Gibbs made 110 and together with AB de Villiers (84) helped the Proteas tear into the visitors' bowling after Ponting had won the toss and elected to field first.

The home team started out slowly, putting on 46 before Graeme Smith (20) was out in the 11th over, chasing a wide ball from Hopes and sending a thick edge behind to Haddin.

Debutant Shane Harwood (2-57) followed that up by accounting for Jacques Kallis, caught at third man by Ferguson for 17, to leave the Proteas at 2-87.

But that was as good as it got for the tourists with Gibbs and De Villiers piling on the misery in a 136-run stand.


The pair reached their half-centuries in 62 and 51 balls respectively, followed by a run-a-ball hundred partnership.

The flamboyant opener brought up his 21st one-day ton in 106 deliveries as South Africa raced past 200 in the 36th over.

Ferguson then dropped De Villiers off Nathan Hauritz diving forward at long-on, but Gibbs perished not long afterwards when Clarke took a simple catch off Nathan Bracken at long-on, ending his 116-ball stay.

Johnson (2-59) removed Morkel (four) and De Villiers in quick succession, but the Australians did not help their chances by twice putting down JP Duminy in the deep.

The South Africa middle-order batsman was eventually out with the final delivery of the innings for 40, but he had already forged a 65-run partnership in just 44 balls with Mark Boucher (29 not out) to help the hosts end on 6-317.