A superb spell from South Africa skipper Johan Botha kept his side within striking distance after Australia opener David Warner earlier blasted his maiden one-day international half-century in the third Commonwealth Bank Series clash at the SCG today.
A superb spell from South Africa skipper Johan Botha kept his side within striking distance after Australia opener David Warner earlier blasted his maiden one-day international half-century in the third Commonwealth Bank Series clash at the SCG today.
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Having won the toss and elected to bat Australia appeared on course for a total in excess of 300, but a steady flow of wickets saw the hosts bowled out for a respectable 269 in the final over.
Things looked promising for the home side early on as Warner plundered 69 from just 60 deliveries, as he and Shaun Marsh (43) combined for 114 at the top of the innings.
With both openers removed, Ricky Ponting (29) and Mike Hussey (12) set about continuing the onslaught but a mix-up between the wickets sent Hussey back to the pavilion sparking a mini-collapse.
Botha, who took three for 32 off his 10 overs was the destroyer, drawing false strokes from Ponting and Brad Haddin (six) in quick succession to haul his side back into the contest.
David Hussey (36) and James Hopes (33) steadied the innings with a valuable 51-run stand but the loss of Hussey again halted the hosts' progress at a pivotal point in the innings.
Proteas pacemen Dale Steyn (2 for 47) and Makhaya Ntini (2 for 46) ensured the momentum stayed with the visitors in the final overs.
While South Africa are well placed at the midway point, the opening hour of play belonged to Warner, who slammed six boundaries and two sixes to set the SCG alight.
The Proteas kept things tight in the early stages, conceding a solitary boundary from the first four overs before Warner plundered Steyn for 15 runs in the fifth over to begin the onslaught.
South Africa turned to Jacques Kallis to try to stem the flow of runs but Warner showed the veteran all-rounder little respect, sending his first delivery to the mid-wicket fence to bring up the 50-run stand in the ninth over.
Some tight bowling from Ntini slowed the onslaught momentarily before Warner took to Kallis, first blasting a cover drive to the boundary before despatching a short ball over the fence to keep the Australians well on top.
With momentum on their side the hosts opted to take their batting powerplay in the 17th over, forcing Botha to bring Steyn back into attack.
Despite the loss of both Warner and Marsh the hosts made good use of the powerplay, scoring 45 runs for the loss of one wicket from the allotted five overs.
But the contest quickly turned in the visitors' favour when Australia lost three for 23 in a damaging six-over period - and the hosts never really recovered.
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