Australia demonstrated that arch nemesis, the Proteas, are facing a tough challenge during their cricket series in South Africa after thumping Hashim Amla’s troops by 93 runs on the D/L method at Centurion in their first of three ODIs on Wednesday.
With Australia on 96/1 after 19 overs, the heavens opened and the umpires were forced to wave the players off from the field. After an adjustment – play being restricted to 29 overs a side – the umpires signalled game on again, five and half hours later!
Ricky Ponting (63) and Michael Clarke (44) consolidated the platform after the early loss of David Warner (20), with a partnership of 102 off 112 balls either side of the break. The two warhorses were at their imperious best, pummelling the lacklustre South African attack to all parts of the ground.
However, Australia could only muster 87 runs from their final 10 overs after the rain break, but understandably the rain disruption caused a bit of blip on their radar.
The early form of Australia’s two kingpins on this tour must have brought a smile to interim coach, Troy Cooley’s face.
Ponting and Clarke drove and square cut elegantly and ferociously to all parts of the ground, until Clarke, who also smote Lonwabo Tsotsobe for two massive sixes, was run-out in an unfortunate manner at the non-striker’s end, with spinner Johan Botha getting a hand to the ball that hit the wicket in his follow-through.
After Ponting’s exit, five overs later, caught by Botha off Steyn, in walked ever-dependable ‘Mr Cricket’ Mike Hussey to steer the ship ahead with an unbeaten 30 off only 21 balls.
Brad Haddin (9) was caught going for the big one, while debutant, Mitchell Marsh, looked very impressive in his tally of eight, one of his shots a scorching boundary through the covers.
Australia ended on 183/4 and their score was adjusted to 223 on the D/L method.
South Africa’s premier bowler Dale Steyn with 2/48 looked decidedly rusty, while Morne Morkel and Tsotsobe went wicketless for 32 runs each off their six overs.
As far as the Australians were concerned, the inclusion of left-arm tweaker Xavier Doherty despite the overcast conditions, showed their confidence in the spinner, as the Proteas opted for an all-out pace attack.
Doherty’s two wickets for 33 was an excellent return, one of his victims, Mark Boucher lbw, as a result of the Decision Review System. Young tearaway Patrick Cummins continues to impress on this tour, blitzing the Proteas with 3/28 off three overs.
It is quite clear that the South Africans have not worked out his pace; JP Duminy (4) playing a lazy, nothing shot with the ball ricocheting off his bat where Clarke snared the ball at second slip. Mitchell Johnson was a bit wayward at times but managed to sneak in 3/20 off five overs.
The indefatigable Dougie Bollinger and promising young all-rounder, Marsh, shared a wicket a piece, in a fiery display of bowling by the entire Australia unit.
The Proteas scorecard was a sorry sight, with only Faf Du Plessis’ 27 off 20 balls of noteworthy mention. Graeme Smith, who seems to be a pale shadow of his former self these days, started the rot when falling again to Bollinger lbw for 4.
Once Amla was gone, thanks to a brilliant one-handed catch behind off Marsh for 24, and Jacques Kallis bowled off an inside edge off Cummins for 15, the writing was on the proverbial wall.
They eventually fell short of their target by 93 runs.
As former Protea Lance Klusener commented in-studio for the national broadcaster, Australia had out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded South Africa on the night.
He said the Proteas should now know that the Aussies, with its band of young warriors are here to play and not on a holiday. However, it must be said that the Aussies showed signs of inexperience here and there in the match, and would do well not to take their foot off the pedal.
Cummins dropped sitter while Botha was blazing away in his cameo, being a case in point. South Africa are a talented outfit and have it in their arsenal to launch a comeback, starting at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday in the second ODI.
The South Africa’s below-par display, even in the recent T20 matches, is being put down to ‘ring-rustiness’ after a six-month hiatus.
They sure cannot afford to be as laid-back in their approach as the city of Port Elizabeth is, come Sunday on the field of play.
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