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Australia’s cricketers surrendered tamely on their national day to hand South Africa a crushing eight-wicket victory and a decisive 3-1 lead in the one day series at Adelaide Oval.
Set only 223 to win, the Proteas were given a whip-crack start by Herschelle Gibbs (38 from 29 balls) and cantered home with a whopping 11.5 overs to spare via the cultured hands of Hashim Amla (80no) and the forceful square driving of AB de Villiers (82no).
In doing so they fulfilled coach Mickey Arthur’s prediction that success in Adelaide would turn a good tour into a great one.
Not since Richie Richardson’s West Indians in 1992-93 has a touring side won both Test and one day series in Australia, a harsh reminder of how far Ricky Ponting’s men have fallen.
When they journey to South Africa for the return series next month it will be with the real danger of losing the No.1 spot in both forms of the game, something that has not happened since the ICC rankings were first minted in 2001.
The Australians lost the match with the bat when they were bowled out for 222 in 48 overs, barely a worthwhile score in pristine conditions, after the Proteas succeeded at needling them into error at important times.
Captain Ponting blazed to 63 but no-one else passed 50, the majority being tied down by the studious work of Dale Steyn (3-49) and off-spinning skipper Johan Botha (2-28).
So pronounced was Australia’s decline from 2-110 when Ponting and Mike Hussey (28) were together that they were ultimately left to take the batting powerplay at a punch drunk 8-189.
Gibbs soon rendered the total inadequate as he climbed eagerly into the outswingers of Ben Hilfenhaus (1-49), cracking him disdainfully over mid off and mid on despite the moving ball.
At the other end Shaun Tait (0-49) bowled with pace but diminishing fire, and he looked exhausted – if not outright injured – by the end of the night.
Though Gibbs and Jacques Kallis (13) departed to overexcited shots, Amla and de Villiers were ease personified as they added 144 to take their team home.
A crowd of 25,419 were left mainly in sullen silence as the South Africans went professionally about their task, much as they had done in the field.
Cheers had gone up when Ponting chose to bat once more, as young openers David Warner and Shaun Marsh promised much entertainment on a hot afternoon.
Neither delivered, Warner (one) tamely chipping the crafty Makhaya Ntini (3-52) to mid on, and Marsh (13) sliced Steyn to third man where Morne Morkel took an impressive low catch.
Ponting provided momentary assurance with a series of muscular strokes, though he was given a reprieve on 38 when he edged a wide ball from Albie Morkel – umpire Daryl Harper kept his hand by his side in the face of a strangely muted appeal.
As it was, the non-decision only cost another 25 runs, for Ponting and Mike Hussey were to fall wastefully in consecutive overs after adding 93.
The rest faded away around James Hopes (42) and Cameron White (30).
Ponting said that it had been clearly his side’s worst effort of the summer
“That’s our worst performance of the summer yeah, by a long way,” he said.
“Right through the Test series and the first three games of this series we’ve been right in the contest until the last over or couple of overs of every game we’ve played, but today was far from that.
“An eight-wicket loss with 12 overs to go is a big loss in a one day game, most one day games, even if you’re beaten easily it comes down to five or six overs at the end but certainly not 12 overs with eight wickets in the shed.”
Proteas skipper Botha admitted some surprise at the margin of his side’s win.
“Yeah, from 2-110 to what it got to I was surprised, I thought we were up for 280-300 again, but it’s been like that four times and we’ve kept it down four times,” he said.
“Hashim and AB played brilliantly and that’s what we asked for in the dinner break and the guys delivered.”
Both sides travel to Perth on Tuesday, with the Proteas expected to rest several players, including fast men Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, from the final match.
VISITING TEAMS TO WIN BOTH TEST AND ONE DAY SERIES IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1979-80
West Indies 1979-80 (Tests and World Series)
West Indies 1981-82 (Tests and World Series)
West Indies 1984-85 (Tests and World Series)
England 1986-87 (Tests, World Series, Perth Challenge)
West Indies 1988-89 (Tests and World Series)
West Indies 1992-93 (Tests and World Series)
South Africa 2008-09 (Tests and one day series)
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