South Africa will need to field a lot better when they take on Australia in the second ODI of their five-match series on Sunday. You can follow the live blog of game at Perth starting 11.20am local time, 2:20pm (AEDT).
AB de Villiers did say at the end of the previous match the side needed to do better in all three departments.
It was an honest assessment of the way things went in the first ODI, what with the South African top-order falling away after the bowlers had allowed the Aussie openers and the lower-middle order to pile on 300 runs in their 50 overs.
What punctured the momentum for South Africa, however, was their fielding performance. Half a dozen chances were missed in the field – most of them off the George Bailey bat – and when that happens, the side is on the back-foot very early in the game.
More vitally, it came from a team that prides itself from its fielding efforts and from cutting 20-25 runs in the field to allowing Bailey four lives and giving him 68 more runs than he should have made, it was a steep decline in their fortunes.
Australia will have questions of their own.
The first of which would be to do with their regular collapses across formats, one of which was on display on Friday.
They were 0/94 at one stage and fell to 5/144 at another. That they were allowed to get to 300 was after the South African fielding unravelled rather quickly but it’s not a problem that Australia will want to take with themselves to the World Cup next year.
The other issue was obviously to do with the Michael Clarke injury. The full extent of it wasn’t revealed at the time but the latest on it is that he has been ruled out of the entire series.
Clarke’s absence may not hit them hard as a batsman given his recent form and that of his replacement, Steven Smith but he is a proven pedigree as far as his leadership is concerned. It will be interesting to see whether George Bailey can get as much out of tough situations as he did in the first game.
Australia had gone into the previous game with Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell expected to make up 20 overs and they went for 130 from the 18 they bowled. South Africa will look to take them on yet again.
As far as the team line-ups are concerned, Australia will look to make that one forced change alone – Steven Smith replacing Clarke.
South Africa will need to think about their line-up too. Ryan McLaren is playing as an all-rounder but his struggles against the short ball have been well-chronicled. He went for 63 from his nine too.
Farhaan Behardien was picked up ahead of Rilee Rossouw and hurt his shoulder in the field. He looked fit enough when he batted but Rossouw’s good form in the T20Is could have carved up an opening for him.
Join me for this second ODI between Australia and South Africa on Sunday here and you can follow the live score of this game from 2:20pm (AEDT) and post your comments in the section below.
Bobbo7
Guest
Aussies very much an all or nothing side. On their day the opposition won't get close but then they will be bowled out for sub 200 scores with the likes of Finch, Warner, Watson, Maxwell, Marsh.,
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
yeah same mate.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
WC pyjamas are gold
Jo M
Guest
My question is had Johnson bowled his overs out? If not, why the hell was he taken off with a new batsman in and that over given to NCN who had bowled shite all night.
Suzy Poison
Guest
I know this may sound silly to you purists, but why wasn't Aussie wearing gold? Both teams looked the same? He he we are so similar in many ways. Series is locked up now. I love watching these two nations go hammer and tongs at each other. Doesn't matter what generation it is, it's always the same. A never say die attitude from both teams. good to see.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Possibly the worst captaining decision I have seen in a long time. Handed the game to Proteas.
Charl
Guest
Who needs a Condon?
jamesb
Guest
I know it is only one game, but I think NCN has counted himself out of WC calculations. NCN threw his wicket away while a set batsman was on at the other and with 10 or so overs to go and then conceded 54 runs in 6 overs. The old chestnut in OD cricket, bat out the 50 overs. Only two players turned up today, Marsh and Hazelwood.
Hammer
Guest
Wow ...The Channel Nine Commentators, still have not learned the lessons of the Rugby Fox Sports Commentators where you cant keep the viewers switched on ....by sounding like a One Eyed Ignoramus ....you need to talk about the SPORT with HUMILITY.... whether you are winning or losing UNBELIEVABLE no other country commentates on sport like this ??
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Morne Morkel gets the man-of-the-match award for his career-best while a special mention about the way de Villiers and David Miller batted - 41-ball 48 for the captain and a fighting unbeaten 22 for Miller. With that I am out of here as well. Back on Wednesday with the live blog for the third ODI. Have an excellent Sunday ahead!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A reasonably comprehensive win for South Africa. They did lose a few wickets in that chase but they made the runs rather quickly, winning in the 28th over. It was set up by their very aggressive bowlers first up, which saw Morne Morkel pick up a wicket first over on his way to getting five sticks in the end. Everyone else chipped in and the Aussie batsmen weren't able to take advantage of the absence of a frontline fifth South African bowler. Hazlewood did bowl for Australia but without much to defend and with one other bowler, Coulter-Nile, going for aplenty, it was never going to be easy for the Aussies.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's an exciting chase in a different sort of a way. Was never going down to the wire as far as the overs were concerned but South Africa did throw their bats around like they had an early flight to catch and lost wickets in the process. Australia would have preferred to score 225-250 to have made a real game of this one. We will go into the third game at Canberra on Wednesday with the series tied at 1-1.
Shortfineleg
Guest
5 fer for Hazlewood. Good on he! Looks like he needs someone to annoy/motivate him to push himself.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Game, set and match South Africa... ...he has opened up his stance and banged it down the ground for a four! South Africa win by three wickets.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Hat-trick averted for the second time in this innings! 2 still needed. It's Steyn on strike and he tries to hook it away and misses! Wow.
The Selector
Guest
Good one Bailey, take off Johnson just when we get a sniff of victory and put on Coulter-Nile who's been getting hammered all day - and he goes for 12 runs - shocking captaincy.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Vernon Philander will face his first ball off Hazlewood... ...and he's gone first ball! That's an interesting one. Not too different from the Behardien dismissal, a bouncer that he was just jabbing at to try and get it away. Hits the handle of the bat and pops up for the short third-man fielder to take the catch. The gully fielder, Warner was running back and even jumped to go for it but Johnson was already there and he takes it coolly. Two still needed, seven down and Hazlewood has five wickets! On a hat-trick too!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
12 from the Coulter-Nile over. He has been ripped apart today. 54 from six overs!
Shortfineleg
Guest
The inconsistency of youth. Its been raining half-volleys for NCN today.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Short of length and pulled away towards mid-wicket for a couple. Good running there. And off the next, Miller just opens the face of the bat in the direction of the gap, it's full enough for Miller to get it off the middle towards the fence. Two needed.