South Africa overcomes Warner epic to sweep series
David Warner scored a valiant 173 off just 136 balls, but it was Rilee Rossouw’s century that came in a winning cause on Wednesday (October 12), as an all-round South Africa saw off Australia by 31 runs to complete a 5-0 sweep at Newlands.
It was the first time Australia had suffered that margin of defeat in a five-match ODI series.
Rossouw hit a 118-ball 122 and added an important 178 with JP Duminy (73 off 75) after walking in under pressure to help South Africa post 327 for 8. In response, Warner played an epic, but the rest of the line-up struggled to stand up to South Africa’s all-round attack and the visiting side was bowled out for 296 in 48.2 overs.
After opting to bat, South Africa started steadily with Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla putting on 37 for the opening wicket, but both were dismissed in consecutive overs. Scott Boland had de Kock caught at cover for an 18-ball 12, before Joe Mennie went through Amla (25 off 22) with one that straightened. When he had Faf du Plessis, the captain, walking back shortly thereafter, South Africa was in trouble at 52 for 3 in 11 overs.
However, it was then that Rossouw and Duminy joined forces. Rossouw’s was an exhibition of power hitting, his knock comprising 14 fours and two sixes. At the other end, Duminy’s silky stroke-play was the ideal foil. The two were excellent between the wickets as well, and for a while, Australia was made to chase leather, the pair first steadying the innings and then pressing forward.
The stand was broken when Duminy looked to force a single and get Rossouw, on 98 at the time, back on strike. He reached out at a wide one from Mennie and popped a catch, bringing an end to the 178-run stand, off 170 balls, which was also the highest fourth-wicket stand for South Africa against Australia. Rossouw was unperturbed though, and went on to complete his century, his third in ODIs.
He then added 51 with David Miller for the fifth wicket, before holing out off Chris Tremain, the paceman. However, Miller’s late push with a 29-ball 39 ensured South Africa crossed the 300-mark, and eventually posted a total that was the third highest in an ODI at Newlands.
It proved beyond Australia’s reach, but it wasn’t for lack of effort from Warner. Along with Aaron Finch, he did put on 72 for the opening wicket. Finch sealed up an end as Warner, in typically boisterous mood, pummelled the attack. Warner was dropped on 11, but in the very next over, he smashed Dale Steyn for 13 runs, picking three fours in the process. Kagiso Rabada was handed similar treatment as Warner made a statement of his intent.
The introduction of Imran Tahir in the 14th over, however, completely shifted the balance. He first had Finch (19 off 40) cleaned up, skidding one through under the batsman’s attempted cut. Two balls later, he had Steven Smith walking back as well.
George Bailey managed just an 8-ball 2, and though Mitchell Marsh did well to score a 38-ball 35, putting on 64 for the fourth wicket with Warner, he then misjudged one from Rabada and was clean bowled. All the while, Warner plugged away at the runs and neared three figures. The celebration was subdued when he eventually reached the mark, off 88 balls, and he soon focussed on building a sizeable partnership with Travis Head.
The two put on 90 for the fifth wicket, with Warner farming the strike and keeping the scoreboard moving. The partnership had reduced the required equation to 99 runs in ten overs. However, a burst of wickets once again drained Australia’s momentum. Head was first caught behind for a 43-ball 35 off Abbott, and Matthew Wade followed suit in his next over for a run-a-ball 7. Mennie lasted only two balls before falling to Rabada.
All the while, Warner fought back, finding the fence with increasing frequency to keep the target in sight. He brought up his 150 off 125 balls, even as Tremain was run out for nought. Warner picked 16 runs off Rabada in the 46th over, but the chase was all but done when he was run out two overs later, attempting in vain for a second run to keep strike. He was rightly applauded off the field for a top quality knock
On the day though, South Africa’s team effort saw off individual brilliance.
