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29 March 2024

Australia vs South Africa 2nd ODI: Proteas hit back to level series

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

South Africa struck back with a vengeance in the second one-day international against Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday, levelling the series with a three-wicket win.

Proteas skipper AB de Villiers had vowed his side would be seeking redemption after being beaten by 32 runs in the series opener on Friday.

His team backed those words with a superb bowling display as the home side were dismissed for just 154 in 41.4 overs on what appeared a good batting wicket.

South Africa overcame some anxious moments and reckless batting to edge to the victory target, reaching 157 for seven in just 27.4 overs.

Paceman Josh Hazlewood was one bright light for the Australians, with career-best figures of 5-31.

Towering paceman Morne Morkel led the way for South Africa with 5-21, his second five-wicket haul in one-day internationals and career-best figures in a man-of-the-match performance.

Morkel said the South Africans were much better with the ball on Sunday, after conceding 300 runs on Friday.

"We put them under pressure more today," he said.

"On this wicket you need to go a touch fuller.

It's always nice when the ball is carrying and the keeper is catching it head high, but you are actually just wasting energy.

"For us it was important to find the right length, which on the WACA wicket we found was a bit fuller."

By contrast, stand-in Australian captain George Bailey was less than impressed with his side's batting.

"There were probably not that many dismissals where guys would say that ball was too good, but it was a culmination of South Africa building pressure and our batters exploding a bit," Bailey said.

The South Africans made an impact with the ball from the outset, destroying the Australian top order to have the home side in deep trouble at 34-4.

It was Morkel who struck the first blow with David Warner caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck.

Warner was initially given not out, but replays showed clear contact with the glove and Nigel Llong overturned the initial decision.

Bailey and emerging all-rounder Mitchell Marsh raised Australian hopes briefly when they added 58 for the fifth wicket before Bailey was brilliantly caught by a diving du Plessis from the bowling of Vernon Philander (1-16) for 25.

Bailey was captaining Australia in the absence of Michael Clarke, who was ruled out of the remainder of the series with a recurrence of a left hamstring problem during his team's opening victory.

Marsh was the only Australian batsman to offer significant resistance, compiling 67 from 88 balls.

A contentious third umpire decision helped swing the game firmly back South Africa's way as Australia's middle order tried to rally after the poor start.

Australia were 125-5 when Matthew Wade was given not out caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock from the bowling of Morkel, but after lengthy deliberation the decision was overturned.

Morkel struck again without addition of the score, bowling Glenn Maxwell for a duck.

The giant South African quick then removed Mitchell Johnson, caught behind for three, to claim his fifth scalp for the innings as Australia slumped to 129-8.

Scoreboard in the second one-day international between Australia and South Africa at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday:

Australia

D. Warner c de Kock b Morkel 0
A. Finch c Morkel b Steyn 8
S. Watson lbw Behardien 11
S. Smith c Tahir b Morkel 10
G. Bailey c du Plessis b Philander 25
M. Marsh c Morkel b Steyn 67
M. Wade c de Kock b Morkel 19
G. Maxwell b Morkel 0
M. Johnson c de Kock b Morkel 3
N. Coulter-Nile c du Plessis b Steyn 2
J. Hazlewood not out 0
Extras (lb5, w4) 9
Total (all out; 41.4 overs) 154
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Warner), 2-14 (Finch), 3-27 (Watson), 4-34 (Smith), 5-92 (Bailey), 6-125 (Wade), 7-125 (Maxwell), 8-129 (Johnson), 9-138 (Coulter-Nile), 10-154 (Marsh).
Bowling: M. Morkel 8-0-21-5 (2w), V. Philander 9-2-16-1, D. Steyn 7.4-1-35-3 (1w), F. Behardien 8-0-40-1 (1w), I. Tahir 9-0-37-0.

South Africa


Q. de Kock c Watson b Hazlewood 4
H. Amla c Wade b Johnson 10
F. du Plessis c Wade b Hazlewood 19
R. Rossouw c Smith b Maxwell 30
AB de Villiers c Wade b Hazlewood 48
F. Behardien c Warner b Hazlewood 0
D. Miller not out 22
V. Philander c Johnson b Hazlewood 0
D. Steyn not out 4
Extras (lb1, w19) 20
Total (seven wickets; 27.4 overs) 157
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (de Kock), 2-21 (Amla), 3-64 (Rossouw), 4-113 (du Plessis), 5-113 (Behardien), 6-141 (de Villiers), 7-153 (Philander).
Bowling: M. Johnson 8-1-47-1, J. Hazlewood 9.4-2-31-5, N. Coulter-Nile 6-0-54-0, M. Marsh 1-0-4-0, G. Maxwell 3-0-20-1.

Result: South Africa wins by three wickets
Series: Level 1-1
Toss: Australia
Umpires: John Ward (AUS) and Brent Bowden (NZL)
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)


South Africa innings

Steyn smashes a boundary off Hazlewood for the winning hit as South Africa win by three wicket. SA 157-7 in 27.4 overs.

Philander goes for a first ball duck as Hazlewood claims his fifth wicket with a nasty delivery which reared up to the batsman. SA 153-7 in 27.1 overs.

Vernon Philander c Johnson b Hazlewood 0 (5m 1b 0x4 0x6)

Miller thumps two boundaries on either side of the wicket off Coulter-Nile as Proteas need three to win. SA 153-6 in 27 overs.

Hazlewood strikes as AB de Villiers departs with South Africa needing 14 to win. SA 141-6 in 26 overs.

AB de Villiers c Wade b Hazlewood 48 (41b 8x4 0x6)

Double strike by Hazlewood rocks Proteas with Miller surviving the hat-trick ball. SA 113-5 in 19.3 overs.

Farhaan Behardien c Warner b Hazlewood 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Faf du Plessis c †Wade b Hazlewood 19 (81m 39b 2x4 0x6) SR: 48.71

Du Plessis hammers three boundaries off Johnson as South Africa race to victory. SA 113-3 in 19 overs.

De Villiers cracks two consecutive boundaries off Coulter-Nile as Proteas are crusing towards their target. SA 97-3 in 17 overs.

Maxwell strikes removing Rossouw who slashes a full toss to slip. SA 64-3 in 13.3 overs.

Rilee Rossouw c Smith b Maxwell 30 (31m 25b 6x4 0x6)

Du Plessis survives after being adjudged leg before off Coulter-Nile being successful with the decision review. SA 52-2 in 11 overs.

Rossouw cracks three consecutive boundaries off Coulter-Nile. SA 39-2 in 9 overs.

Johnson strikes having Amla caught behind. SA 21-2 in 6.5 overs.

Hashim Amla c Wade b Johnson 10 (30m 22b 1x4 0x6)

Amla survives as Finch drops an edge off Johnson at second slip which runs away to the fence. SA 20-1 in 5 overs.

Hazlewood strikes as Watson takes a super catch at first slip to dismiss Quinton. SA 6-1 in 2 overs.

Quinton de Kock c Watson b Hazlewood 4 (8m 8b 1x4 0x6)

Quinton hits the first boundary of the innings driving Johnson through extra cover as South Africa begin the chase. SA 5-0 in 1 over.

Australia innings

Australia have been bundled out for 154 in 41.4 overs with Mitchell Marsh top scoring with 67.

Morkel was the pick of the bowlers claiming five for 21 off eight overs and Steyn three for 35.

Philander also impressed with figures of 9-2-16-1.

Marsh is the last man out flicking Steyn to a leaping Morkel at fine leg. Aus all out 154 in 41.4 overs.

Mitchell Marsh c Morkel b Steyn 67 (88b 3x4 2x6)

Marsh is dealing in boundaries now muscling Steyn over long off for a maximum.

Marsh hammers Tahir for a six over long on. Aus 147-9 in 41 overs.

Coulter-Nile chips to mid-on as Australia lose their ninth wicket. Aus 138-9 in 39.2 overs.

Nathan Coulter-Nile c du Plessis b Steyn 2 (13m 10b 0x4 0x6)

The batting Powerplay for Australia has yielded just 13 for the loss of three wickets.

Marsh tucks away Morkel to fine leg for a boundary to complete his ODI half century. Aus 138-8 in 39 overs.

Morkel is on fire having Johnson caught behind to claim his fifth wicket. Aus 129-8 in 36.1 overs.

Mitchell Johnson c de Kock b Morkel 3 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Double strike by Morkel as Maxwell last just two balls chopping onto his stumps. Aus 125-7 in 34.4 overs.

Glenn Maxwell b Morkel 0 (1m 2b 0x4 0x6)

Morkel strikes as Wade is adjudged caught behind after a decision review in the first over of Batting Powerplay. Aus 125-6 in 34.2 overs.

Mathew Wade c de Kock b Morkel 19 (41m 29b 2x4 0x6)

Wade survives slashing Steyn just out of lone slip Amla's reach for a boundary. Aus 116-5 in 32 overs.

Wade pulls Philander for a boundary to midwicket to bring up the 100 of the innings. Aus 100-5 in 28 overs.

Philander returns to break the partnership with Faf de Plessis taking a superb low catch at mid on as Bailey miscues  a pull shot. Aus 92-5 in 25.3 overs.

George Bailey c du Plessis b Philander 25 (45b 2x4 0x6)

Bailey attacks Behardien going down on his knees and swinging to fine leg fence. Aus 91-4 in 25 overs.

Marsh hits a boundary after eight overs glancing Tahir past short fine leg and also bringing up the 50 partnership in 75 balls. Aus 84-4 in 24 overs.

Bailey and Marsh are stringing together a partnership to rebuild an innings which was in tatters. Aus 78-4 in 23 overs.

Spin introduced after resumption as Tahir comes into the attack. Aus 56-4 in 16 overs.

Steyn returns to the attack and his final delivery is despatched to the fence with a sumptuous cover drive by Marsh before drinks are taken. Aus 54-4 in 15 overs.

Marsh is living dangerously slicing Morkel just short of AB de Villiers and dragging another just over mid-on. Aus 49-4 in 14 overs.

Bailey slams Behardien past mid-off for his first boundary. Aus 45-4 in 13 overs.

Australia are in deep trouble as Smith virtually throws his wicket away miscuing a pull shot with Tahir pouching the skier. Aus 34-4 in 11.3 overs.

Steven Smith c Imran Tahir b Morkel 10 (20b 2x4 0x6)

Smith tickles Behardien down the leg side for a boundary. Aus 33-3 in 11 overs.

Behardien strikes in his second over with Watson missing a ball which swung in to be trapped leg before. Aus 27-3 in 10.2 overs.

Shane Watson lbw b Behardien 11 (26b 1x4 0x6)

Australia are struggling managing just 27-2 in the Powerplay overs.

Behardien comes into the attack after two overs from Steyn. Aus 25-2 in 9 overs.

Philander bowls another excellent over. Aus 21-2 in 8 overs.

Smith pulls a short delivery from Steyn to square leg for his first boundary. Aus 20-2 in 7 overs.

Philander bowls another maiden over troubling Watson. Aus 14-2 in 6 overs.

Steyn comes into the attack and his second ball is flicked for a six over midwicket.

But the bowler has the last laugh as Finch fails to clear Morkel at mid-on next ball. Aus 14-2 in 4.3 overs.

Aaron Finch c Morkel b Steyn 8 (22m 14b 0x4 1x6) 

Philander bowls a maiden to Finch with Watson surviving a run out attempt after being sent back. Aus 7-1 in 4 overs.

Watson hits the first boundary of the match flicking Morkel to square leg. Aus 7-1 in 3 overs.

Australia are on the back foot as Morkel and Philander bowl aggressive opening overs. Aus 3-1 in 2 overs.

Great start for Proteas. Warner departs for a duck gloving a catch behind off Morkel on the leg side with South Africa successfully overturning a not out verdict. Aus 1-1 in 0.5 overs.

David Warner c de Kock b Morkel 0 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Australia have won the toss and elected to bat in the second ODI against South Africa at the WACA in Perth on Sunday.

Smith is in for Clarke while Rossouw replaces McLaren for Proteas.

Teams

Australia
: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, George Bailey, Mitchell Marsh, Mathew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa
: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Farhaan Behardien, AB de Villiers, R Rossouw, David Miller, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

Clarke out

Australia captain Michael Clarke will miss rest of the one-day international series against South Africa with a hamstring injury, the country's cricket board (CA) said on Saturday.

Clarke re-injured his problematic left hamstring on Friday in Australia's 23-run win over the Proteas in the first match in Perth and had scans on Saturday.

"Michael had scans today in Perth for his ongoing left hamstring problem and as a result has been ruled out of the remaining matches in the... ODI Series," CA team doctor Peter Brukner said in a statement.

"Michael will return to Sydney for further treatment and an update on his fitness for the first Test in Brisbane will be made in due course."

Perth also hosts the second game on Sunday with George Bailey confirmed to lead the home side, a role he is set to continue to play in the five-match series.

Clarke's injury sidelined him for the entire one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE and almost all of a preceding one-day tournament against South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe.

The recurrence of the injury has stoked fears Australia could head into a four-Test series against India without their top batsman and master tactician, while another breakdown could be the end of his World Cup ambitions.

The first Test against India will start on December 4.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann confirmed Clarke would be replaced by middle order batsman Steven Smith.

Bailey led the team after Clarke was ruled out midway through the match after being caught behind for 11.

Lehmann said Australia could win the World Cup with or without Clarke.

"It's never easy when you're losing one of your best players, but that's part and parcel of sport these days," Lehmann told reporters in Perth on Saturday.

"Players have got to be adaptable.

"We'd love him there. But you can (still) win every game you play (without him).

"With the 11 that go on the field, we have full faith in winning each and every game."

With every injury breakdown, Australian media have called on Clarke to step down as ODI captain to prolong his career in Tests, considered by far the most important format in Australia.

Pundits repeated the calls in newspapers on Saturday.

Lehmann said it would be Clarke's call as to whether he continued in the role.

Johnson factor

Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson may be rested after the second one-day international against South Africa to keep him fresh for the Test series against India and next year's World Cup, the left-arm speedster said on Saturday.

Johnson celebrated his ICC Cricketer of the Year award by removing both South Africa's openers in the first ODI in Perth on Friday as Australia cantered to a 32-run win.

"It's looking that way at the moment," Johnson told local radio station Triple M when asked if he might stay in his home-town Perth with family after Sunday's second ODI at the WACA.

"The thing that I guess I've learned over time, I'm 33 now and played a lot of one-day games for my country, which has been a great honour, and Test matches as well.

"With what we've got coming up ... it's a lot of cricket.

"So for me to be at my best and bowling fast, I need to be as fresh as possible.

"It's hard, I want to play every game I can for my country, but at the same time I want to be playing at my best so whatever the selectors and CA (Cricket Australia) want me to do, I'll go by them."

Johnson's absence would open the door for a variety of pacemen, including 23-year-old South Australian Kane Richardson, who bowled throughout Australia's 3-0 ODI sweep of Pakistan in the UAE but was omitted for Perth in favour of seamers Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Coulter-Nile.

The player likely to be most pleased about Johnson's absence, however, might be Proteas all-rounder Ryan McLaren, whose arm was broken by a vicious ball from the rampaging left-armer during a one-day match in Zimbabwe in September.

Johnson also struck McLaren on the helmet during the Test series in South Africa in March, leaving him bleeding from the ear.

McLaren continued to struggle with the short ball on Friday and was out for a duck after gloving a catch behind from a rising delivery by Coulter-Nile.

Johnson suggested whoever came in would be ready to target McLaren.

"Obviously with him at the moment he's struggled with the shorter ball and that's something that we'll keep doing," Johnson said.

"You've got to play to those guys' weaknesses and they're a good side, so whatever opportunities we get we've got to go with it.

"You do notice a bit of a change in the guys' faces when the ball is whistling through."