30 March,2009 08:09 AM IST | | PA Sport
Johan Botha ledu00a0 his team from the front to guide South Africa to a 17-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 international in Pretoria tonight.
The Proteas captain took two wickets for 16 runs and was given good support from debutants Yusuf Abdullah (one for 16) and Roelof van der Merwe (one for 30), while Johann Louw (two for 36) also chipped in as the visitors were limited to 139 for eight.
Chipping in
Van der Merwe also made a useful contribution with the bat, slamming 48 from only 30 deliveries as the hosts posted 156 for five.
In response, the tourists raced to 37 from only four and a half overs before they were pegged back by Albie Morkel, who managed to outfox David Warner walking down the wicket and yorked him for 20.
One run later, Abdullah sent a slanting delivery across Ricky Ponting, tempting him to drive, but he only managed to edge behind to Mark Boucher for a single.
Botha brought himself on and, after going for only two in his first over, came back and bowled Michael Clarke going for a powerful sweep with the first ball of his second for 27, before hesitation between new man Callum Ferguson and David Hussey led to the former being run out.
Needing 92 from 54 balls, Hussey briefly threatened to emulate his 88 from 44 balls at the Wanderers on Friday before he was eventually out for 27.
