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Australia's top order fails again as Proteas win to clinch 2-1 series lead

11th November, 2018
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11th November, 2018
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Wayward death bowling and another misfire by their top order in Hobart last night saw Australia fall to a 2-1 series loss in the ODIs against South Africa.

While Australia gave SA a slight scare late in the match thanks to good knocks by Shaun Marsh (106), Marcus Stoinis (63), Alex Carey (42) and Glenn Maxwell (35), they were rank outsiders after falling to 3-39 in pursuit of 321.

During an incredible 252-run stand, century-makers Faf du Plessis (125) and David Miller (139) had given Australia the blueprint to how to bat on a Hobart pitch which made life tough for new batsmen. Miller and du Plessis showed that the key to batting on this somewhat sleepy pitch was to start slowly, get accustomed to the surface, and then accelerate.

Australia’s top order clearly paid no attention as they tried to force the pace on a deck which demanded patience. First Chris Lynn, promoted to open, attempted an extravagant on-the-up drive from the second ball of the innings by Dale Steyn and edged behind for a duck.

Soon after Aaron Finch tried to bludgeon a presentable delivery from Lungi Ngidi through the on-side and lobbed a catch to mid-on to leave Australia reeling at 2-18.

Then Travis Head, having batted himself into a hole by not rotating the strike, went for a big cut shot and fed a catch to Aiden Markram at backward point. Australia were left in a heap at 3-39 due to a trio of poorly-conceived and badly-executed strokes.

The first Australian batsmen who paid heed to the knocks of du Plessis and Miller were duly rewarded. Shaun Marsh and Marcus Stoinis both took their time to play themselves in. After 20 overs, Stoinis was on 16 from 39 deliveries, and Marsh was 30 from 45 balls.

Having got their eyes in they expanded their games and swelled the run rate. That pair hammered 75 from the next 10 overs before Stoinis was out for a well-made 63 from the final ball of the 30th over. Marsh pushed on to make 106 from 102 balls, his third ODI ton this year.

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Marcus Stoinis of Australia celebrates on reaching his maiden century

Marcus Stoinis scored an important 63 (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)

He found a second willing partner in Alex Carey, with the wicketkeeper crafting a sprightly 42 from 41 balls to keep Australia in the hunt for an unlikely win. When Marsh and Carey departed it was left to Maxwell to try to conjure a miracle. But the Proteas’ quicks bowled superbly at the death.

Earlier, Australia’s bowlers were let down in the field where the home side missed a string of opportunities.

None was more costly than a howler of a dropped catch by Carey when du Plessis was on 29 from 54 balls. With Glenn Maxwell bowling around the wicket, du Plessis offered a straightforward outside edge to Carey, whose hard hands caused him to spill the sitter.

Had that catch been taken SA would have been in deep trouble at 4-105, with an extremely weak tail to come – their number eight Dale Steyn averages just 9.6 with the bat in ODIs. Soon after this Maxwell, who bowled with impressive drift, had Miller adjudged LBW only for the Proteas batsman to get a reprieve via the DRS.

In the next over things again went Miller’s way when he top edged a pull shot from a Starc short ball, only for Finch to react late to the catching opportunity and fail to get a hand on what should have been a fairly easy take.

Earlier Pat Cummins had made a meal of a run-out opportunity, and Travis Head put down a one-handed catch at cover.

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Australia's Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins bowls for Australia. (AFP PHOTO / THEO KARANIKOS)

While all these mistakes were being made in the field the Australian bowlers stuck to their task and did their best to restrict SA.

After 34 overs Australia had limited the tourists to just 3-134, at a run rate of four per over, thanks to this disciplined bowling. Then the home attack was made to pay for the mistakes of their fieldsman as du Plessis and Miller found their range.

Du Plessis had laboured up until that point, tied down by some precise bowling from Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood. But once he built momentum the veteran unfurled a sumptuous array of strokes. At the other end Miller was pure power, unleashing a barrage of thunderous pulls and drives.

After bowling so well for the first two-thirds of the innings Australia’s bowlers failed to find the right areas as SA accelerated and duly were slaughtered. All too often they were either short or full, unable find an in-between length or nail their yorkers.

Yet as they copped this punishment the home attack must have wondered what could have been if they had been properly supported by their fieldsmen after they had reduced SA to 3-55.

Full credit, though, must go to du Plessis and Miller for the ruthless way in which they exploited their fortune and batted their side to a 2-1 series win.

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