Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
Super Eights: South Africa v Australia
at SCG
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
In front of a packed Sydney home crowd, Australia were defeated by the unlikeliest of heroes, Graeme Smith, as a nearly knocked-out South African team gave an excellent fight to show they were not quite the pushovers they had seemed so far in the tournament. Australia, meanwhile, showed bowling deficiencies that the other teams will be very keen to exploit, and a severe and uncharacteristic lack of bottle in the death overs.
South Africa's choice of batting first turned out to be a wise one, though after Smith had made a horrible decision on a single to run out partner Dippenaar for three, it didn't look that way. However, Smith and Gibbs took runs quickly and simply, and with Gibbs beneficiary of a dropped catch on 17 not even a rare Shaun Tait maiden stopped the South African juggernaut. Smith brought up his half-century by hoiking Watson for six - his second boundary of the innings - then treated Michael Clarke in the same fashion shortly afterwards, as Australia's fifth-bowler combination once again struggled. Eventually, however, Clarke caught Smith napping - a top edge went miles up in the air and was easily taken by Gilchrist.
That didn't deter Gibbs, however. He took Watson for four and six in the next over, and hit 102 runs in a splendid partnership with Jacques Kallis, lasting 96 balls with plenty of extravagant shots. Australia's breakthrough came through a cruel run-out, as Gibbs, on 99, was called over by Kallis for another single - and fell a yard short due to Clarke's excellent throw. With new batsman Ashwell Prince saved by the umpire on his next ball, South Africa didn't quite uphold the magnificent rate in the final overs, and had to be content with 18 off the final 24 balls. However, their target of 285 for four still looked daunting.
Australia started well enough, but in the third over, in-form wicketkeeper Gilchrist nicked Pollock behind for three. With Ntini and Pollock bowling reasonably tight lines, the required run rate immediately crept up above six an over, and when Ponting tried to up the tempo, he found Shaun Pollock in the deep to be gone for 31. Damien Martyn provided an entertaining 27 as Andrew Hall's occasional short and wide bowling was dispatched cleanly, and with Jaques coming to terms with his anchor role, Australia by no means looked out of it until Graeme Smith put himself on in a last desperate charge. By that time, with 18 overs left, Australia required 110 to win, and were nine ahead of South Africa's then-total.
Smith's first over was miserly, with most hits going straight to fielders and only four runs conceded. With Langeveldt following up in the next over with extra bounce that had the batsmen beaten, Jaques felt compelled to lash Smith out with the reverse sweep...and was bowled for 86. But that only brought finisher extraordinaire, Michael Hussey, to the crease, in his perfect situation - right? Not so. Although Smith's next over cost 10 runs, he then bowled a maiden over to Clarke, and some dot balls faced by Hussey indicated he was not comfortable. That was exposed by veteran Shaun Pollock, whose inswinging yorker may have lost pace but still may be effective - and Hussey's off stump went to see him gone for 20 and Australia requiring 69 off 53.
Watson and Clarke attempted it, with Watson hitting some fine boundaries - however, ultimately, both batsmen failed to take the quick singles, and that proved their undoing. Of the last 53 deliveries, 18 were dots, and despite Ntini's four-bye gift down the leg side in the final over, the remaining 35 balls could not give them the runs required. South Africa prevailed by eight runs, but with a win-loss record of 3-4, South Africa require the help of net run rate and a lot of other results if they are to qualify for the semi-finals.
South Africa 285 for 4 (50 overs) beat
Australia 277 for 6 (50 overs) by eight runs
Man of the Match: Graeme Smith
The website is also updated.
at SCG
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
In front of a packed Sydney home crowd, Australia were defeated by the unlikeliest of heroes, Graeme Smith, as a nearly knocked-out South African team gave an excellent fight to show they were not quite the pushovers they had seemed so far in the tournament. Australia, meanwhile, showed bowling deficiencies that the other teams will be very keen to exploit, and a severe and uncharacteristic lack of bottle in the death overs.
South Africa's choice of batting first turned out to be a wise one, though after Smith had made a horrible decision on a single to run out partner Dippenaar for three, it didn't look that way. However, Smith and Gibbs took runs quickly and simply, and with Gibbs beneficiary of a dropped catch on 17 not even a rare Shaun Tait maiden stopped the South African juggernaut. Smith brought up his half-century by hoiking Watson for six - his second boundary of the innings - then treated Michael Clarke in the same fashion shortly afterwards, as Australia's fifth-bowler combination once again struggled. Eventually, however, Clarke caught Smith napping - a top edge went miles up in the air and was easily taken by Gilchrist.
That didn't deter Gibbs, however. He took Watson for four and six in the next over, and hit 102 runs in a splendid partnership with Jacques Kallis, lasting 96 balls with plenty of extravagant shots. Australia's breakthrough came through a cruel run-out, as Gibbs, on 99, was called over by Kallis for another single - and fell a yard short due to Clarke's excellent throw. With new batsman Ashwell Prince saved by the umpire on his next ball, South Africa didn't quite uphold the magnificent rate in the final overs, and had to be content with 18 off the final 24 balls. However, their target of 285 for four still looked daunting.
Australia started well enough, but in the third over, in-form wicketkeeper Gilchrist nicked Pollock behind for three. With Ntini and Pollock bowling reasonably tight lines, the required run rate immediately crept up above six an over, and when Ponting tried to up the tempo, he found Shaun Pollock in the deep to be gone for 31. Damien Martyn provided an entertaining 27 as Andrew Hall's occasional short and wide bowling was dispatched cleanly, and with Jaques coming to terms with his anchor role, Australia by no means looked out of it until Graeme Smith put himself on in a last desperate charge. By that time, with 18 overs left, Australia required 110 to win, and were nine ahead of South Africa's then-total.
Smith's first over was miserly, with most hits going straight to fielders and only four runs conceded. With Langeveldt following up in the next over with extra bounce that had the batsmen beaten, Jaques felt compelled to lash Smith out with the reverse sweep...and was bowled for 86. But that only brought finisher extraordinaire, Michael Hussey, to the crease, in his perfect situation - right? Not so. Although Smith's next over cost 10 runs, he then bowled a maiden over to Clarke, and some dot balls faced by Hussey indicated he was not comfortable. That was exposed by veteran Shaun Pollock, whose inswinging yorker may have lost pace but still may be effective - and Hussey's off stump went to see him gone for 20 and Australia requiring 69 off 53.
Watson and Clarke attempted it, with Watson hitting some fine boundaries - however, ultimately, both batsmen failed to take the quick singles, and that proved their undoing. Of the last 53 deliveries, 18 were dots, and despite Ntini's four-bye gift down the leg side in the final over, the remaining 35 balls could not give them the runs required. South Africa prevailed by eight runs, but with a win-loss record of 3-4, South Africa require the help of net run rate and a lot of other results if they are to qualify for the semi-finals.
South Africa 285 for 4 (50 overs) beat
Australia 277 for 6 (50 overs) by eight runs
Man of the Match: Graeme Smith
The website is also updated.
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