Desperate for a win for to keep the series alive, Australia took a couple of gambles by sending South Africa in and naming their third oldest one-day international debutant of all time.
The fast bowler Shane Harwood, 35, was handed his first ODI cap and was the only change for either side after South Africa’s victory in Cape Town.
Brydon Coverdale writes for cricinfo that the move was made necessary because of Brett Geeves’ fractured foot but Australia could have brought back Ben Laughlin, who performed solidly in his first two ODIs in Durban and Centurion. The late inclusion of Harwood, who was in South Africa training for the IPL, came as Australia sought a wicket-taking fast man to support Mitchell Johnson.
Bob Simpson and Bob Holland are the only Australians who were older than Harwood when they made their one-day international debut. Harwood will get an early chance to show his skills after Ponting’s decision to field on a pitch that he felt had some moisture on the top.
South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith said he would have batted had he won the toss and following their success at Newlands, there was no alteration to their line-up. If South Africa win they will take an unassailable 3-1 lead with a match to play and will confirm their place as the No. 1 ODI side in the world.
South Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Roelof van der Merwe, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Johan Botha, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Wayne Parnell.
Australia: 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 Michael Clarke, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Shane Harwood.
is a staff writer at Cricinfo
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SA 70/1 at drinks
Smith out for 20
😯
13 runs off the 1st over after drinks.
A SIX and a FOUR from Kallis.
83/1 after 16 overs
Kallis Out 17 off 24b
Harwood to Kallis, OUT, Harwood gets his maiden ODI wicket! Banged in short outside off, Kallis times that a little too well for his liking, upper-cuts it straight to third man, who’s right at the edge waiting for it and takes a well-judged catch bending forward
SA 150 / 2 After 30.2 Overs
Gibbs 71 off 92
AB Div 34 off 37
Hi Andre, I am getting nervous Gibbs is doing well and when that happens, we normally see our backsides, must say I was one of Mickey Arthurs big critics, but you have to give it to him he has done wonders with this side, especially the blooding of new players
@Whindy (Comment 5) :
Hey I feel the same way. And posting this next post makes me even more nervous.
34.5 Hauritz to de Villiers, SIX
34.4 Hauritz to de Villiers, SIX
With the 2nd SIX AB goes to 55 off 51 balls.
let’s hope he keeps going and doesn’t get out just as he starts blazing away.
South Africa: 200 runs in 35.1 overs (215 balls), Extras 10
Warra Boykie
Gibbs: 100 off 106 balls (8 x 4, 2 x 6)
looking good for a huge total, esp if Morkel comes in with his normal fireworks, just love giving it to the Aussies
@KSA Shark (Comment 7) : He has just been dropped
@Whindy (Comment 11) :
Hey who needs Morkel? if these two carry on like this they will be BLAZING away in the final 10 overs. 😉
Is it a Holiday your side today?
Nah, we got yesterday though
@Whindy (Comment 12) : 😯
Now we just need the better option to go our way. 😉
When a player get’s dropped there are one of two options available.
1)He goes on to score BIG
2)He goes out very soon after.
I choose option two. 😛
@Whindy (Comment 13) :don’t talk too soon you nearly called it earlier 😀
Gibbs is out, bring on morkel
FOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
38.3 Bracken to Gibbs, OUT, he goes, after an excellent knock! Bracken pushed it full this time, on middle, Gibbs made room and attempted to loft that over long-on, timed it well but not well enough, found Ferguson in the deep who took it comfortably
HH Gibbs c Clarke b Bracken 110 (166m 116b 9×4 2×6) SR: 94.82
40.6 Johnson to Morkel, OUT
JA Morkel b Johnson 4 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
😕 🙁
now Div as well 😥
42.4 Johnson to de Villiers, OUT, bowled on a good length on middle and leg, not quite full for the waft over midwicket that de Villiers was attempting, mistimed it completely and Ferguson at mid-on ran a couple of yards to his left to snap a well-judged catch
AB de Villiers c Ferguson b Johnson 84 (101m 74b 6×4 3×6) SR: 113.51
263/5 after 45 overs
We have to make 300 plus.
317/6 After 50 😎
No they have to, unless you have become an Aussie 😯
@Whindy (Comment 24) :
No I meant with us sitting on 263 after 45 overs, would have to BE ABLE to reach 300 plus. 😛
Which we managed. 😎
Things goin well for AUS. 120 for 0 with 30.3 overs left.
Haddin out for 78 off 61 c Parnell b Botha… 129 for 1 …Hello and goodbye Ponting!
CLARKE goes for 50 …bowled by Roelof. 140 / 2 25.3 left. Ferguson promoted up the order…
Ferguson stumped for 3 off the bowling of Roelof. Mr Cricket is on… 145 for 3
M Hussey trapped for 2. Roelof bowling well. 152 for 4. 166 needed off 21.4 overs. David joins the skipper in the middle.
RSA were 145 for 2 at the same stage…
Aus needs 140 from 90 balls. Spinners have done a great job with wickets and run rate. Steyn back on…
Hussey skies one…and he is gone for 20 c&b Steyn… 188 for 5.
Hi guys.
Pouter has 32 off 56 balls. What a snooze.
Totally off the page here, but what has happened with Bakkie’s hearing yesterday?
10 an over needed from 11 overs out with 5 wickets in hand. Game over.
Hey Klemp… lets see what they can do with the Powerplay first. Punter starting to get loose…
100 from 58 needed now…
Punter gets a 3rd 4 from a Steyn over…make that 4th…and he also gets his 67th 50 off 92 balls.
Bye bye Ponting. 226/6.
…and he is brilliantly caught by Morkel at midwicket… 226 for 6. 92 needed from 54 balls.
WWJD? What will Johnson do?
Steyn really pumped when he got that wicket.
@blackshark (Comment 43) : Well he just got spanked for four fours in five balls! 😆
Aussies need 11 an over with 7 overs left. Johnson and Hopes can hit the ball… game on!
Morkel gets Hopes. 245/7
Albie yorker- Johnson tried to give himself room and could only watch ball collide with his off stump. 246 for 7.
@klempie (Comment 46) : My bad. That was Johnson.
Hopes now out. 255/7
Hauritz gone. 256/9
Hauritz bowled by Steyn…also tryin to give himself room. 256 for 9. Ole, ole, ole…
Game over! ODI KINGS!
Gibbs – Man of the match. When he’s good… he is really good.
@blackshark (Comment 51) : Best overall. Think about. For the summer.
Tests 3-3
T20 2-2
ODIs 7-2
Whooo HOOOOOOOOOOOOO
@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) :
Okay now that my vacation schedule for SA is confirmed I have also put the Lions Fixtures page up. 😉
I will be attending BOTH the Durban Matches. 😎 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 56) : Cool! 😎
I’m getting 10 tickets for a Rebel Sharks tour tomorrow. We can hook up.
@klempie (Comment 57) :
Damn right we do.
We arrive in SA on the 8th in the afternoon at 16:25 and then fly to Durban that evening. I am sure we will be able to get a braai sorted for after at the game.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) : Yeh. I’m buying the tickets at risk but only cos I am sure I will be able to sell them if this trip tanks like the Brumbies one. Ness reckons the overnight train will be a good option. Most people bailed out cos transport was too expensive.
@klempie (Comment 59) :
I’m sure if you need to get rid of the tickets at face value you will manage easily.
BTW is the site VERY slow on your side as well, or is it my connection?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : No slower than normal on this side. 😐
@klempie (Comment 61) :
Oh Okay, must be my connection. 👿
Geez it’s the 13th already! 😯 This month has flown past. But one good thing; payday is near. 😈