SA Break Records Again – Stage SCG Thriller

Sreelata YellamrazuJan 23 2009

Count on South Africa to pull another one out of the hat! There are identical patterns in victory and in defeat, even for South Africa. But the signs are encouraging as Australia realized there is still something in the tank of this southern hemisphere nemesis.

herschelle gibbs 2cEiG 17022

South Africa have become easy to decipher in the one day internationals, and yet Australia can do little about the results. South Africa appear to allow Australia off the blocks early in the Australian innings but are equally good at pegging back the hosts just when they appear to make a big score. Then, South Africa marshall the target chase well in the beginning only to dig themselves a hole in the middle overs and increase undue pressure on themselves. They then rely on the accelerator, Albie Morkel, to get them comfortably across the finish line as they power through with the batting power play.

It may sounds simple but South Africa fought tooth and nail as David Warner was showing his prowess once more and his sixty-nine was testimony of the fact that Australia were once again threatening to post a target in excess of 300. But South Africa showed their resilience once more in pulling back by taking wickets consistently, skipper Johan Botha leading the way with the ball. It was definitely a case of a short changed innings when Australia only managed 269.

But the target was still not going to be any less of a challenge. Hashim Amla is still struggling to find his feet in this format but there were no such problems for Herschelle Gibbs at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. Gibbs led the onslaught with an impressive , breaking his own shackles since tackling personal problems and also being dropped from the team.

kallis2 3hUtU 17022

Gibbs’ bolstering up the order with sixty-four off fifty-two balls was followed up tactfully well with Jacques Kallis’ sixty as South Africa looked set to overhaul Australia’s innings with ease. Well placed at two down for 140 in less than twenty=two overs, South Africa once again choked in the middle overs as AB de Villiers departed for scanty as did JP Duminy and the almost immediate loss of Kallis then only left the business half way and unfinished.

For five down for 163, it was a case of slow and steady wins the race even as the gap between balls available and runs needed had drastically reduced. Mark Boucher, injury worn, held up his end of the bargain as Albie Morkel’s entry was signaled with the South Africans once again taking the batting powerplay. Australia helped by bowling Nathan Hauritz and Albie, true to his nature, plonked two sixes in his twenty-two ball innings of forty to ease the considerable pressure that threatened to take this down to the last ball again.

Despite the fact that Botha has been a makeshift skipper, his team of Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie essentially one of a team put together to add substance while players grapple to establish themselves in this form of the game, South Africa amended their loss in the second one day international by five runs with his sensational victory by three wickets with three and a half overs to spare, chasing down the highest successful total chase yet at the SCG for victory that gives them a 2-1 lead in the series.

Australia Relying on Johnson for Battle Versus SA at the SCG

Mitchell: Not Interested in Millions

Morne's Racial Abuse Deftly Handed; SA All Praises

Captains Wary of Batting Powerplay; Call Series Tight as SA lose by Five

Smith Confesses Amidst Adulation

Now Gilchrist shows his Better Side, Advises Warner

Aus Crowd Reaction: Better to SA This Year than India Last Year

Ponting emerges as Magnanimous Captain For Hayden

SA Star in Sensational Thriller After Nearly Snatching Defeat from Jaws of Victory!

Ponting: Too Many Captains in South African Team

How Proteas self-belief earned success Down Under

SA Will Stage Comeback in ODI's