David Warner showed he wasn’t a one-hit wonder but it was South Africa that struck the perfect notes in their three-wicket one-day triumph at the SCG.
Stocky Sydneysider Warner bludgeoned the Proteas in his knock of 69 off 60 balls but he received precious little support in Australia’s 269 from 49.2 overs in their day-night clash.
In reply, Herschelle Gibbs (64 from 52 balls) started the job and man of the match Albie Morkel (40 off 22 balls) finished it off as the tourists won the clash with 21 balls to spare.
The result handed South Africa a 2-1 lead in the five-match series heading into game four on Australia Day in Adelaide.
Chasing 270 to win, Australia handed the Proteas the opportunity for a flying start by giving both Hashim Amla (13) and Gibbs lives in the first over of their reply.
It ended up costing them dearly as Gibbs’ scintillating knock meant the target remained in reach despite South Africa losing 4-38 in the middle of their reply.
Morkel was also grassed early in his innings by Shaun Tait in the deep as Australia were made to pay for their mistakes in the field.
It was the highest successful run chase in a one-day international at the SCG.
After Ricky Ponting opted to bat, the question was whether Warner could cut the mustard after backing up his spectacular Twenty20 debut with two failures.
By his standards, he played his way into his innings before peeling 15 runs off Dale Steyn in the fourth over on the way to reaching his half century off 41 balls.
Warner displayed his unorthodox ways with an audacious hook shot for six off Jacques Kallis as he and Shaun Marsh put on an opening stand of 114 off 18.5 overs.
It was a welcome performance for national selectors so soon after Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden’s retirements.
However after Warner has his stumps scattered by Steyn, Proteas skipper Johan Botha (3-32 from 10 overs) dragged his side back into the contest as Australia lost their last nine wickets for 125.
No side had scored more than 260 in a successful run chase at the ground.
But Australia handed the visitors a head start with Ponting and David Hussey dropping Amla and Gibbs respectively in the opening over by Tait.
Amla only reached 13 before falling in a comical mix-up but Gibbs made the most of his chance with an enterprising knock.
Mitchell Johnson had Gibbs caught at first slip and Nathan Bracken soon after sent AB De Villiers (5) packing.
Even the classy JP Duminy (9) couldn’t steady the innings, a ball from spinner Nathan Hauritz staying low and hitting his off stump.
Jacques Kallis (60 off 72 balls), who became just the eighth cricketer to reach 10,000 one-day international runs in his innings, fell two balls later to Tait.
His dismissal left the Proteas at 5-163 before Neil McKenzie (27) and Mark Boucher (31no) pushed the score to 208 when Warner’s arm brought McKenzie undone.
That brought Morkel to the crease and he smashed 14 off a Johnson over with four of those runs coming off a dropped catch by Tait in the deep.
Another heart stopper looked on the cards before Morkel smashed his team to the brink of victory.
Botha said his men were hungry to wrap up the series in Adelaide.
“That would be huge,” he said.
“Yesterday I had a chat and I said to the guys it has been a really good series so far but if we want to make it a really great series, then we have to win the one-day series.
“We are one game away and as a team we don’t want to leave it to Perth.”
Ponting said his side had just made too many mistakes.
“Lots of mistakes whether it be with the bat not capitalising on partnerships or dropping catches early on,” he said.
“A couple of mistakes from us were probably the difference in the game.”
drewster
Guest
The old saying of "catches win matches" Couldn't be more true than in the game last night. To put down a chance like that off a player of Gibb's ability will always cost you and then Morkel (although a bit harder) at such a crucial stage of the game was just a game breaker. Clarke is definetly missed in the middle order and his fielding is as good as anyones, Also he give the side another bowling option if needed. A big mistake to leave White out if Symonds is not to play, A power hitter down the order is really needed as Morkel has shown. The batting power play is another factor for the inclusion of a power hitter down the order, It gives you more options on when to use it. Was it just me or did anyone else see a bit of elbow flex from Botha last night, Especially when he bowled wide on the crease.
Harry
Guest
And of course their bowling ability hazey ... I was at the ground, and it seemed to me that the Saffers treated Hopes and Hauritz's bowling with contempt. No feeling of pressure being built and it left Bracken with too much to do this time. Felt really sorry for Tait after his first over. Gee he was quick, noticeably faster than Steyn, Johnston and Ntini, none of whom are slow.
Hazey the Bear
Roar Rookie
I agree with ya, Harry. Warner not only impressed with his batting, but he showed maturity and skill in the field as well. I also agree with your comment regarding Clarke and Symonds - The Aussie middle order fell to some pretty soft dismissals as well as some fundamental errors (Hussey had no right to call that single that had him run out)...And in the field, it was dropped chances that lost the game. The combination of batting and fielding excellence that both Clarke and Symonds bring to the game are sorely missed...
Harry
Guest
I am on the Warner bandwagon. That was a fine innings last night with really good judgement of when to hit and some impressive orthodox batting in between. Ponting diappointed again and the game was lost with those two dropped catches in Tait's first over. Ponting has been an out and out champion for a decade but he looked a player, and captain, in decline last night. Got very poor support from the Hussey's or Haddin in the middle order though. Symonds and Michael Clarke are being really missed.
Spiro
Guest
This innings of David Warner entrenches him, I believe, in the Twenty/20 and ODI Australian side. The partnership with Shaun Marsh is developing well as a hitter-accumulator duo. Mind you, Phillip Hughes can probably play the accumulator role even better than Marsh. The point about having a hitter opening up in the short forms of cricket is that you stretch the limited number of balls available to the batting side, if the hitter gets going, to the maximum. When Warner get going, the 2o overs become in reality 25 overs, and the 50 over become nearly 60 overs. Once he settles into the shorter form of the game NSW have to find a position for him in their Sheffield Shield side. My suggestion is a batting number 6, which is high enough in the order to change a game and less crucial if he goes early. Work should be done on his leg-spinners, too, to give him a crack at being a batting all-rounder, in the mould of Dougie Walters (although Walters bowled medium-paced stuff).