Australia vs South Africa Tri-series final: Steyn stars as Proteas triumph

Dale Steyn ripped the heart out of Australia's batting and Faf du Plessis came within a whisker of yet another century as South Africa cruised to a six-wicket victory to clinch the triangular series cricket trophy on Saturday.

Steyn swung the ball at pace to rip out three quick wickets and record figures of 4 for 35 as Australia were limited to 217 for nine.

Du Plessis then fell four runs short of what would have been his fourth hundred of the series as the Proteas chased down their target with 55 balls to spare in front of a packed Harare Sports Club.

Although Du Plessis was the obvious man of the series for his 464 runs in five innings, Steyn was the clear man of the match.

The South African quick made the early breakthrough when he had Phil Hughes brilliantly caught by AB de Villiers, but his most significant contribution came when he swung the ball at pace to pick up three wickets in the middle period.

"I think they bowled very, very well," Australia captain George Bailey said. "It's actually easier to swallow when you can say that you were outplayed.

"I thought they bowled really tight and made it hard for us to score early, and then once they got the ball reversing, Dale Steyn was able to show his class."

Steyn bowled top scorer Aaron Finch for 54 with a vicious in ducker, then repeated the delivery to trap Glenn Maxwell lbw with the very next ball.

Brad Haddin was also trapped in front at the start of Steyn's next over, and with Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel also striking Australia were reduced to 144 for eight in the 38th over.

"He's the best bowler of reverse swing in the world by a long way," South Africa captain AB de Villiers said of Steyn.

"I think he showed more skills than most of our bowlers and the Australian bowlers."

It took a 71-run stand for the eighth wicket between James Faulkner and Mitchell Starc to drag Australia towards some sense of respectability, but their total always looked well short.

Although Quinton de Kock fell to Maxwell early in the reply, Hashim Amla stroked 51 as he added 98 for the second wicket with Du Plessis.

The partnership was ended by leg spinner Steve Smith, and an experiment of promoting Wayne Parnell to No. 4 failed when he was bowled by Faulkner, but Du Plessis and De Villiers got South Africa back on track with a 91-run partnership.

That was only broken when the scores were level as Du Plessis attempted to hit the boundary that would have made him the first player to score four hundreds in an ODI series, and instead found mid-on.

However De Villiers finished the match the very next ball with a crushing drive through extra cover for four to finish unbeaten on 57 from just 41 deliveries.

"There's always been doubt on us in big-pressure games, and I guess we showed what we're capable of today," De Villiers said.

"We all feel like we're on the right track as a team and I think we've got a good idea of where we're heading after this series."

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

South Africa win the Triangular Final against Australia by six wickets and more than nine overs to spare.

AB de Villiers hit the winning runs to remain unbeaten on 57 while Faf du Plessis fell for 96

Faf du Plessis falls with South Africa needing one to win as he attempted to reach his century with a boundary. SA 217-3 in 40.4 overs.

Faulkner keeps alive Australia's hopes by knocking the middle stump of Parnell which breaks into two. SA 126-3 in 26.4 overs.

Wayne Parnell b Faulkner 6 (24b 1x4 0x6)

Part-time spinner Smith gets a breakthrough as Amla plays a loose shot to be snapped up at short cover. SA 112-2 in 21.4 overs.

Hashim Amla c Bailey b Smith 51 (75b 2x4 0x6)

Amla also reached his 25th ODI half century as Proteas cruise towards the target. SA 110-1 in 21 overs.

Faf du Plessis completes his 10th ODI half century off 45 balls with consecutive boundaries off Lyon. SA 107-1 in 20 overs.

Quinton de Kock falls cheaply being lured into a drive only to give a leading edge to cover. SA 14-1 in 3.2 overs.

Quinton de Kock c Bailey b Maxwell 7 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Amla slams Johnson down the ground for a boundary as South Africa begin the run chase. SA 4-0 in 1 over.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Australia recovered to make 217 for 9 after being put into bat by South Africa.

Steyn claimed four wickets as Australia struggled to 144-8 despite a solid half century from Finch (54).

The ninth wicket pair of Starc (29 not out) and Faulkner (39) revived the innings with a plucky stand of 71 to help them get a respectable total.

Faulker falls with two balls remaining holing out to long on. Aus 215-9 in 49.4 overs.

James Faulkner c Miller b Morkel 39 (75m 37b 4x4 0x6)

Starc and Faulkner have added 50 runs in just 58 balls for the ninth wicket leading a spectacular rearguard action. Aus 188-8 in 47 overs.

Everything is going South Africa's way as Phangison takes a superb catch on the boundary to dismiss Johnson. Aus 144-8 in 38 overs.

Mitchell Johnson c Phangiso b Morkel 6 (6b 1x4 0x6)

Steyn claims his fourth wicket in the first ball of a new spell trapping Haddin leg before. Aus 137-7 in 36.1 overs.

Brad Haddin lbw b Steyn 6 (19b 0x4 0x6)

Parnell strikes as Marsh is bowled off an inside edge. Aus 132-6 in 34.3 overs.

Mitchell Marsh b Parnell 27 (46b 1x4 1x6)

Marsh smashes Tahir over the sightscreen for the first six of the match. Aus 132-5 in 34 overs.

Steyn is on fire removing the dangerous Maxwell first ball trapping him plumb with reverse swing. Aus 115-5 in 28.2 overs.

Glenn Maxwell lbw b Steyn 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6)

Steyn strikes a deadly blow knocking back the middle stump of Finch. Aus 115-4 in 28.1 overs.

Aaron Finch b Steyn 54 (87b 5x4 0x6)

Finch smashes a full toss from Tahir to the midwicket fence to bring up the 100 of the innings. Aus 104-3 in 23 overs.

Tahir has struck beating the Australian skipper with a googly. Aus 82-3 in 19 overs.

George Bailey b Imran Tahir 12 (28b 0x4 0x6)

Parnell strikes as Smith miscues a pull short straight to mid-on. Aus 49-2 in 8.5 overs.

Steven Smith c Miller b Parnell 10 (15b 2x4 0x6)

Spin introduced early and Finch despatches the final ball for a glorious drive through the off for a boundary. Aus 49-1 in 8 overs.

Parnell comes into the attack and concedes a couple of boundaries. Aus 45-1 in 7 overs.

Smith gets his first boundary punching a short ball from Morkel past mid-off. Aus 36-1 in  overs.

Finch chips Steyn over midwicket for another boundary. Aus 30-1 in 5 overs.

Steyn draws first blood as Hughes smashes him straight to short cover. Aus 25-1 in 4.1 overs.

Phil Hughes c de Villiers b Steyn 15 (16b 2x4 0x6)

Finch punches Steyn through the covers for his first boundary. Aus 22-0 in 3 overs.

Hughes gets going with a couple of boundaries off Morkel. Aus 15-0 in 2 overs.

South Africa have won the toss and opted to bowl in the Zimbabwe Tri-series final against Australia at Harare on Saturday.

Tahir comes in for Rossouw while Faulkner replaces the injured Kane Richardson.

PLAYING XI

Australia: Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, MR Marsh, Brad Haddin†, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon

South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir

PREVIEW

South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel and all-rounder JP Duminy will undergo late fitness tests ahead of Saturday's triangular series final against Australia in Harare.

South Africa, who have already lost all-rounder Ryan McLaren to injury in the series, will give the players until just before the start of play to prove their fitness.

"MRI Scans were done on Morne's right shoulder and JP's left knee earlier this week. Morne's scan confirmed an aggravation of a pre-existing rotator cuff tear which has worsened due to a high workload in Zimbabwe, while JP's scan confirmed a patella tendinopathy diagnosis," Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement.

"Both players have been managed through the last few games by physiotherapist Brandon Jackson but due to the worsening nature of their injuries recently, their availability for tomorrow's final will be subject to a late fitness test in the morning."

The side may feel the loss of Duminy more as he performs not just as a top six batsman, but also provides a spin option on the Harare Sports Club wickets that have turned prodigiously in recent matches.

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