Morkel’s heroics give South Africa lead in one-day series

SYDNEY, Jan 23: Albie Morkel’s late cameo helped South Africa seal a three-wicket win in the third One-day International against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday to build a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Local boy David Warner gave Australia a superb start, with six fours and two sixes in 69 from 60 balls, sharing 114 inside 19 overs with opening partner Shaun Marsh.

But Herschelle Gibbs also gave South Africa a flier as they replied to 269, with 10 fours and a six in his 64.

The tourists stuttered in the mid innings but Morkel hit 40 off 22 balls with six fours and a six to guide South Africa home with 21 balls left. It was the highest successful run chase at the Sydney Cricket Ground in One-day Internationals, and further proof of the resilience of the South Africa team.

Victory looked unlikely after Warner, who struck a scintillating 88 on his international debut in the Twenty20 match between the teams, got quickly into his stride as Ricky Ponting chose to bat first.

Warner’s innings came to an end in the 19th over when he swung and missed at a full, straight one from Steyn and saw his leg-stump disappear.

Ponting made an even faster start, getting off the mark with a stylish push through extra-cover for four, and pulling the next two balls for boundaries.

Marsh was smartly stumped in the 23rd over and Mike Hussey made only 12 before he was sent back following neat fielding from A.B. de Villiers. Ponting was out for 29 in the 29th over chipping tamely low to short mid-wicket.

Skipper Johan Botha then collected a third wicket when he lured Brad Haddin down the pitch and collected a firm low return catch. There was no major acceleration, with runs added in steady fashion, but the final five overs saw the final five wickets fall for 30, with four deliveries unused.

South Africa’s task was soon highlighted by Shaun Tait’s second delivery of the innings, clocked at 148.8 km, and his pace created two chances in the first over.

Hashim Amla was dropped by Ponting at second slip and Gibbs was put down by David Hussey at backward point.

Amla was needlessly run out in the sixth over when he set off for a single when Gibbs was still taking evasive action from a short delivery.

Gibbs underlined his capabilities by backing away to leg and launching rapid left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson over extra-cover for six, before pulling the final ball of the over intricately through the leg-side.

Jacques Kallis, who passed 10,000 one-day runs during a composed half-century, provided a useful foil as Gibbs began to play some stunning strokes.

Stepping down the pitch to Tait, Gibbs drove through the covers for four, before riling the paceman further with a similar shot next ball.

His brilliant knock came to an end in the 19th over, however, when he guided one straight to slip, which began something of a slide.

Three wickets fell for 23 in seven overs, before Mark Boucher began to rebuild the innings in typically nuggety fashion.

Some superb work from Warner in the outfield saw Neil McKenzie comfortably short of his ground and left the requirement at 61 from 61 balls with four wickets left.

The South Africans quickly took the batting powerplay and powerful left-hander Morkel smashed Johnson for successive fours on either side of the wicket.

Then a slashed cut shot flew out to Shaun Tait at third man but he spilled the chance diving forward and to his left, resulting in a third four in the over and leaving less than 50 needed.

Hauritz was brought back to bowl the 46th over, but Morkel smashed the second ball into the second tier at mid-wicket and added two more boundaries into the leg-side to leave his side five runs from victory.

Trying to finish the match with another mammoth six he was well caught by James Hopes sliding across at deep mid-wicket, but the work was all but done and skipper Botha applied the gloss with a thumping cover drive for four.

The fourth match takes place in Adelaide on Monday which also is Australia Day.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

S.E. Marsh st Boucher b Botha 43

D.A. Warner b Steyn 69

R.T. Ponting c Gibbs b Botha 29

M.E.K. Hussey run out 12

D.J. Hussey b Ntini 36

B.J. Haddin c and b Botha 6

J.R. Hopes c Botha b Ntini 33

M.G. Johnson b Duminy 10

N.M. Hauritz c Botha b Steyn 7