SA Aus ODI 1: Ponting Stars As Aus Win Rain Affected Match by 93 Runs

South Africa would feel bitterly disappointed by the result of the first South Africa Australia ODI. That is because not only did they fail to check Ricky Ponting but also, did not make a great case for themselves in a tough chase under the Duckworth Lewis method after rain cut their innings down to twenty-nine overs.

Ricky Ponting

Dale Steyn returned to the South African team to dismiss David Warner and although he would return later to dismiss the former Australian captain, the horse had already bolted. To Australia's credit, Ricky Ponting and the current Australian captain, Michael Clarke, formed a virtually indomitable, flawless partnership for the second wicket that virtually took the match away from South Africa, particularly after rain caused a huge break in the match proceedings to leave Australia's score at 183 for four after twenty-nine overs but set South Africa 223 runs to get in the same period. Clarke's validation of Ponting's form on tour was almost immediately validated with Ponting scoring sixty-six runs with Clarke himself backing him on forty-four runs. Michael Hussey's breezy thirty runs in the end also put paid to South Africa's chances.

In response and chasing a target that had a run rate of seven and eight runs per overs consistently, South Africa caved in under the pressure to get going from the word go. Although the acting captain, Hashim Amla, looked good in his short stint, his stint ended on twenty-four runs, with Faf du Plessis and Johan Botha scoring similar scores in twenties but failing to push on with the onus having already been surrendered early on. For Australia, there would have been delighted by the performances of their young fast bowlers, Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Marsh, the latter being more consistent with the runs while the former picked up three wickets albeit at an expensive rate. Mitchell Johnson picked up three wickets as well in what was a comprehensive win for the Australians who go 1-0 up in the series with a win by a whopping margin of ninety-three runs.