16 January, 2009

Nathan Bracken South Africa has twice come back from forlorn positions to defeat a new-look Australia by three wickets in a thrilling opening to the Commonwealth Bank one-day international summer at the MCG on Friday night.

Led by Albie Morkel, who made a match-winning 40 off only 18 balls, the Proteas capitalised on a well-chosen batting powerplay to plunder 18 runs off the 48th over, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus, to steal a remarkable victory with three balls to spare.

Morkel delivered the final twist in a thrilling match where Australia had for the large part appeared destined to win.

The Proteas needed 50 off the final five overs but the initiation of a batting powerplay in the 46th over enabled Morkel and Johan Botha to carve a match-winning 51-run stand off only 35 balls.

After reaching an imposing 8-271, built largely on half-centuries from freshmen internationals Shaun Marsh and David Hussey, the Proteas lost early wickets and were in big trouble when Jacques Kallis departed with the score on 3-90 in the 19th over.

But a 123-run stand off 135 balls between the irrepressible Jean-Paul Duminy and the hitherto out-of-form Neil McKenzie returned the ascendancy to the Proteas before Duminy's dismissal for 71 triggered another change in momentum.

The Proteas lost 4-8 in less than three overs to slump to 7-221 in the 44th over before the older Morkel brother and Botha put the Australians to the sword.

The pair was aided by a batting powerplay and a pair of costly midfields from Shaun Tait and Nathan Bracken.

Tait's misfield gifted Morkel a boundary when only one should have been conceded, while Bracken's stumble allowed the Proteas to grab an extra two runs.

That came moments after Bracken had conceded 13 runs in the 47th over, which finished with a massive six from Morkel.

It was a devastating finish for the Australians, who until the final few overs were about to celebrate a win of substance.

Five of its less experienced players had, up until this point, been responsible for delivering Australia control of the match.

Marsh, Hussey and to a lesser extent Cameron White made valuable contributions with the bat, before Hilfenhaus and Tait made important breakthroughs with the ball.

That pair had removed Herschelle Gibbs and Hashim Amla with the new ball then dismissed McKenzie and Boucher during the Proteas' stumble.

Australia was helped by a charitable fielding performance by the Proteas.


Vaughn can Jaarsveld gave lives to Ricky Ponting and Hussey, and McKenzie reprieved Marsh.

Ponting and Hussey were the two most costly.

Ponting was dropped on 33 and lived to make 46, while Hussey's life enabled him to make 52 at better than a run a ball to lift Australia's run rate towards the end of its innings.

But Morkel's heroics at the death ensured the Proteas would not pay the ultimate price.

18 January, 2009

Ricky Ponting Lightning failed to strike twice for South Africa on Sunday as Australia overcame another potential powerplay roadblock to scrape home by five runs in the second Commonwealth Bank one-day international at Bellerive Oval.

In an eerily similar situation to Friday night, the Proteas, chasing 250 to take a two-nil series lead, required 60 runs from their final six overs when they initiated their batting powerplay.

But Mark Boucher, with 37 not out, and Albie Morkel, the Proteas' hero from the MCG, nearly pulled off the impossible with an unbeaten whirlwind stand of 39 off only 19 balls.

With 41 required from the final three overs, they heisted 15 and nine off the next two, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Bracken, leaving an unlikely 17 off the final over to pinch victory.

Seven runs were still needed from the final two balls after Boucher slogged Hilfenhaus over mid-wicket for six but the Tasmanian quick held his nerve on the final two balls.

After Australia reached 9-249 on the back of half-centuries from Ricky Ponting and man of the match Shaun Marsh, the Proteas were on track for another against-the-odds victory thanks to a 93-run stand between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers.

But Hilfenhaus's the reintroduction into the attack in the 35th over changed the complexion of the match.

Tantalisingly close to having Kallis caught behind with his first ball, Hilfenhaus had his man four deliveries later.

A tidy throw from the deep two overs later by debutant Ryan Harris caught de Villiers, who made 44, short of his ground chasing a second, leaving the Proteas with two new batsmen in the middle.

Even though Jean-Paul Duminy, run out by a cool Brad Haddin, made 35 at better than a run a ball before departing in the 47th over, a Proteas win seemed near impossible until Boucher and Morkel opened their arms.

A 135-run stand off 145 balls between Marsh and Ponting, who both made half-centuries, formed the nucleus of Australia's innings but their departures within minutes of each other saw the run rate head south rather than north.

The home side could garner only 92 runs in its final 20 overs, a period when most sides aim to double their score.

Nor was it helped by a lean batting powerplay which saw 23 runs added for the loss of two wickets.

Ponting, who arrived after new kid on the block David Warner failed on his one-day international debut, mixed the streaky with sublime in an eventful 64.

Ponting was troubled early by Ntini, who unleashed two searing lifters which whistled past the captain's grille.

Unafraid to hit over the top, Ponting was abetted by dropped chances from Neil McKenzie when on 10, then by Ntini in the deep on 50.

Interspersed with his good fortune were some delightful strokes, the highlight of which was a flick off his pads off Kallis which split a narrow gap in the deep.

Marsh, though batting more cautiously, also had his share of worrying moments.

He recovered from a nasty blow to the groin, which left him on his haunches for several minutes, to post his second consecutive half-century and fifth from 10 matches.


Given a life on 51 by Johan Botha, Marsh made it to 78 before being deceived by Duminy, whose gentle off-spin along with the pace of Ntini and Steyn stifled Australia in the latter overs.

Michael Hussey, David Hussey and Haddin made small contributions but could not produce the fireworks to give Australia the impetus it needed at the death.

Australia look to returning Johnson for spark

January 22, 2009

Match facts

Friday, January 23
Start time 2.15pm (03.15 GMT)


The Big Picture

If anyone thought Twenty20 would spell the end of 50-over cricket, the opening two ODIs between Australia and South Africa should have assuaged their fears. Both contests came down to the final over with either side still capable of victory. In Melbourne, South Africa got home in their chase but in Hobart Ben Hilfenhaus delivered a steady last over that won the match for Australia. It means the series is now locked at 1-1 and Friday's match at the SCG will put one team within a win of taking the trophy.


ODI form guide

Australia - WLWWW
South Africa - LWWWW



Team news

Australia will take in a more experienced attack than in their Hobart victory, where Hilfenhaus and the debutant Ryan Harris performed solidly. Both men have been left out of the side for the SCG, where Mitchell Johnson will return after a break and Shaun Tait should also play having been rested at Bellerive Oval. The remaining question is whether Australia can find a place for the offspinner Nathan Hauritz on his home ground. Hauritz has travelled with the team for the Twenty20s and two ODIs without being required as David Hussey, Michael Clarke and Cameron White have shared the spin duties. At the SCG he might have his best chance of a call-up with the allrounder James Hopes a potential casualty.

Australia 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 David Warner, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Hopes/Nathan Hauritz, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Shaun Tait.

South Africa entered the series planning to rotate their fast bowlers and Dale Steyn is the only one of the Test attack not to have had a rest. His break could come at the SCG or in the next game at the Adelaide Oval, with Morne Morkel and the uncapped Lonwabo Tsotsobe both available to replace him. It is hard to see the batting line-up altering, with Vaughn van Jaarsveld likely to miss out again.

South Africa (possible) 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Neil McKenzie, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Johan Botha (capt), 10 Dale Steyn/Morne Morkel, 11 Makhaya Ntini.


Watch out for ...

Mitchell Johnson returns to the squad having rested for the two Twenty20s and the first two ODIs. Australia's best bowler over the past few months, Johnson adds venom to an attack already featuring the dangerous Tait and the world's No. 1 one-day seamer Nathan Bracken. Johnson also strengthens a tail that has been unusually long for Australia this series, with Bracken, Tait and Hilfenhaus not exactly reliable with the bat.

Hashim Amla has promised much on this tour without really delivering. Three half-centuries in the Test series showed his class but he had a habit of getting out when well set. Amla has struggled to bring the same consistency to the limited-overs portion of the trip and finding form at the top of the order will be important for South Africa to have their best chance of a series win.


Pitch & conditions

The SCG pitch was the subject of vigorous debate during the Test match, when its cracks resembled earthquake-inducing fault-lines. However, the game lasted until the final few minutes on the fifth day, so batting was clearly not too difficult and Sydney is usually a venue where runs can be scored relatively freely. The weather could be a slight concern, with the chance of showers or thunderstorms.


Stats and trivia

Jacques Kallis will fly home 12 runs short of 10,000 in Tests but he should reach the mark in ODIs this series. Kallis needs 16 more to become the first South African to score 10,000 one-day international runs.
Kallis also requires four more wickets to become the fourth South African to reach 250 ODI victims.
Australia's poor record against South Africa at the MCG is almost reversed at the SCG, where the home team has won the past four encounters between the two sides.


Quotes

"Mitchell will obviously come back in, after a couple of weeks off he was obviously jumping out of his skin to get back in the nets to bat and bowl again. That is a good sign for us."
Ricky Ponting

"I'd like to think most of the pressure is on Australia. It's their backyard and there are expectations on them to win."
JP Duminy

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.

All to play for as series heats up

January 25, 2009

Match facts
Monday, January 26
Start time 1.45pm (03.15 GMT)


The Big Picture

Australia must win on their national holiday to keep the five-match series alive following another nerveless chase from South Africa in the third game in Sydney on Friday night. Apart from the 2-1 disadvantage, the most troubling thing for the hosts is that they don't feel safe with any total. South Africa have been stunning during their pursuits of 271 in Melbourne and 269 at the SCG, and the only time they fell short was in the five-run defeat in Hobart.

Australia have plenty of fire at the top of the order, but things haven't been going as well in the middle, and the bowling during South Africa's batting Powerplay and at the death has been loose. Nathan Bracken, who has been the only exception, will be missing in Adelaide with a calf strain. Both sides are experimenting with new players, but with two matches to go it is the South Africans who feel the most comfortable.


ODI form guide

Australia - LWLWW
South Africa - WLWWW



Team news

South Africa have suffered a crucial blow with the wicketkeeper Mark Boucher out of the rest of the series with a broken toe caused by a Shaun Tait yorker. AB de Villiers will take the gloves as Boucher hopes to recover for the first Test in South Africa late next month. Jacques Kallis picked up a side strain on Friday and will continue to be monitored; his batting is fine but bowling causes discomfort. South Africa have so far resisted the move to promote Albie Morkel from No. 8, despite him bashing 91 runs from 45 balls in the three matches, but now they might not have a choice.

South Africa (probable) 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers (wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Neil McKenzie, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Johan Botha (capt), 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini, 12 Vaughn van Jaarsveld.

Ryan Harris, the Queensland fast bowler, is in the 13-man squad for Bracken, but hasn't been able to push ahead of Ben Hilfenhaus and will watch with Nathan Hauritz, who took 2 for 60 off nine overs in Sydney, from the boundary. Cameron White is back after being left out on Friday and Ricky Ponting expects him to get a decent bowl. The move to pick an extra bowler and shift Brad Haddin to No. 6, where White will bat, did not help secure a match-winning total at the SCG.

Australia 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 David Warner, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Hopes, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Shaun Tait, 12 Nathan Hauritz.


Watch out for ...

Shaun Tait is back playing an international match in front of his home crowd for the first time since December 2007 and will be desperate to impress his supporters. Despite the often lifeless surface, Tait is able to create plenty of problems with his speed and late movement. He has been troubling batsmen during the series without finding the brutal spell that will kick-start his national return.

Herschelle Gibbs struggled in the opening games after coming back into the side following his rehabilitation from an alcohol problem, but he seemed to experience a few moments of clarity in racing to 64 off 52 balls in Sydney. There were 10 fours, a six, and a huge dose of confidence. On a flat surface in Adelaide, where the square boundaries are short, he could provide more danger.


Pitch & conditions

When thinking of Adelaide it's usually all about runs, but in the past three years the highest score has been Sri Lanka's 8 for 274, and there have been three completed innings in the 100s. It will be "dry, hot and sunny", according to the weather bureau, with temperatures of 35C predicted.


Stats and trivia

Australia have lost two of their past four one-day series at home, with the wins coming over Bangladesh and New Zealand
In 37 ODIs in Adelaide Australia have won 27 and lost 10, while South Africa have been successful on three out of four occasions. This will be the first time the teams have faced each other in a one-dayer at the ground
Albie Morkel's strike-rate after three games is a Twenty20-esque 202.22
Makhaya Ntini, Johan Botha and Dale Steyn lead the series wicket list with five each


Quotes

"You do and don't [like the attention], but it's something that comes from being a professional athlete. There are ups and downsides and you've just got to cope with that. At the moment, I'm doing fine."
David Warner, Australia's opening batsman

"I am training to play at eight, it is perfect to have guys down the order who can hit the ball out of the park in the Powerplay. That puts pressure on the fielding team."
Albie Morkel

26 January, 2009

South African players celebrate South Africa has embarrassed Australia and clinched the Commonwealth Bank Series with an emphatic eight-wicket win in game four at Adelaide Oval on Monday.

The Proteas made light work of their run chase, finishing at 2-223 with 11.5 overs to spare. It gives the tourists a 3-1 series advantage with only Friday’s game at the WACA to be played.

An unbeaten 144-run third-wicket partnership between AB de Villiers (82 off 85 deliveries) and Hashim Amla (80 from 103 deliveries) was the backbone to South Africa’s tally while opener Herschelle Gibbs released the pressure on the rest of the line up with a scintillating cameo of 38.

De Villiers, who won the man-of-the-match award, brought up the winning run with a leg-glance.

James Hope was the best of the Aussie bowlers with 1-28 off 7.1 overs while Ben Hilfenhaus was the other wicket taker. The rest of the attack was disappointing with the majority going home with some unflattering figures next to their name.

Gibbs faced just 29 balls, smashed eight boundaries and was the key player in the 58-run opening stand.

He eventually miscued one of several lofted drives and was caught by Mike Hussey at mid-on.

Jacques Kallis also made batting look easy but he was dismissed soon after and the score was 2-79.

Amla and de Villiers consolidated after the veteran’s dismissal, picking up the singles and the twos in the pursuing overs.

They then played with more flare with a mid-innings powerplay sparking a more aggressive approach.

The duo rarely strayed from the orthodox as time was on their side and the ever-decreasing run-rate ensured life out in the middle remained low key.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and batted but was bowled out for a below-par 222 in 48 overs.

The Aussies were in a strong position at 2-110 with top scorer Ricky Ponting (63 off 70 balls) and Mike Hussey controlling play and keeping the run-rate ticking over at around a run per ball.

But the team's leaders were dismissed in quick succession and when Brad Haddin followed soon after the home side was 5-130 at the 25-over mark.

It was then left to the tail to scramble as many runs as they could in the second half of the innings.

Hopes posted a responsible and well-timed 42 off 44 deliveries while Cameron White made a fighting 30 but got out chasing a wide Steyn delivery.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and many of the batsmen would’ve been disappointed with their dismissals rather than overwhelmed by the Proteas’ hard-working bowling attack.


Steyn had the best figures with 3-49 while Makhaya Ntini took some early punishment from Ponting but fought back to finish with 3-52. Captain Johan Botha delivered a retro, 80s-style bowling performance with a tight 2-28.

The Proteas got the early ascendancy against an aggressive Australia by dismissing openers David Warner and Shaun Marsh cheaply.

But Ponting launched a stinging counter attack with the skipper hitting Ntini out of the attack with a hat-trick of boundaries in the eighth over. He then kept the momentum going with another couple of fours off the opening bowler's replacement Albie Morkel.

30 January, 2009

Hashim Amla and Brad Haddin Half centuries from Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin weren't enough to save Australia in the fifth Commonwealth Bank Series match against South Africa, the Proteas storming to a 39-run victory at the WACA on Friday night.

In the final one-day international clash with South Africa this summer, Australia struggled to build momentum from the start of its run chase after the tourists overcame a slow start of their own to post an imposing 6-288.

Hashim Amla starred with the bat for the Proteas while left-armed paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe enjoyed a dream one-day international debut, taking 4-50 as Australia was bowled out for 249 in the second last over.

The elegant Amla compiled a chanceless 97 before falling short of his century, caught behind by a diving Haddin off James Hopes in the 42nd over, with A.B de Villiers and J.P. Duminy ably supporting him, both batsmen scoring 60.

In reply, Australia slumped to 4-53 as Tsotsobe claimed the vital wickets of Shaun Marsh and Ricky Ponting. But a 69-run partnership between Michael Hussey and his brother David (30), batting for Australia for the first time together in their native Perth, wrested the momentum back towards the home side.

But the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals, the Australians struggling to maintain a consistent run-rate as David Hussey (30) dolled up a catch to Johan Botha at short cover just as the brothers appeared set to lead a revival.

Mike Hussey and Haddin then combined for 72 runs, but 'Mr. Cricket' became Tsotsobe's third victim, bowled for 78 in the 40th over attempting one slog too many after belting the youngster for 12 runs from three balls during Australia's batting powerplay.

As the required run rate mounted Haddin (63) defiantly scored his half-century from 39 balls, but it was too late to prevent Australia falling to a 4-1 series defeat to South Africa.

The Proteas did the job without meaningful contributions from Herschelle Gibbs (seven) or Neil McKenzie (10), who both fell cheaply earlier in the day.

But Amla and de Villiers soon set about laying the foundation for a big total, patiently building the score as they compiled a 118-run third-wicket partnership.

De Villiers slashed recklessly at Hopes (3-44) and was out for 60 but his replacement Duminy produced a sterling shift, firing off an unbeaten 60 from 42 deliveries as the Proteas took full advantage of their batting powerplay, scoring 53 runs from the five overs.

Indeed, the tourists had a field day during the last 10 overs. Restricted early on by some tight bowling and excellent fielding, particularly by Michael Clarke and David Warner in the inner circle, the Proteas broke the shackles in the final 10 overs, plundering 92 runs.

Mitchell Johnson (1-68) was the main offender, the frontline bowler smashed for 20 off his final over during the batting powerplay as Duminy treated him with contempt. Nathan Bracken (0-70) also endured a torrid return to the Australian side, his last six overs conceding 53 runs, although Ben Hilfenhaus (2-43) and Clarke (0-30) kept things tight.

In reply, Australian opener Marsh could only manage five runs in his home debut for Australia before losing his wicket in the second over to a sharp catch by Amla at mid-wicket.

Australian skipper Ponting (12) attempted to pull a shorter Tsotsobe delivery, lofting the ball up for an easy catch by wicketkeeper de Villiers in the eighth over while Clarke followed him back to the shed seven balls later after chopping Morne Morkel onto his stumps for a duck.

A composed Warner (22) looked set to take on South Africa's attack but fell victim to a fluke run out by another Proteas' debutant Wayne Parnell, who got the tip of his finger to a straight drive by Mike Hussey that crashed into the stumps with Warner well out of his ground.

The two Hussey's and Haddin gave Australia some fleeting hope but the tourists did enough to hold the hosts at bay, completing a memorable summer for the touring team.