South Africa’s injury-weakened bowling attack humbled the much-vaunted Australian top order on Sunday, leaving the world champions struggling to reach a modest total of 228 in their tri-series one-day international at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.
Only a determined seventh wicket stand of 123 between Michael Hussey and Brett Lee saved the host nation from humiliation and allowed them to post a competitive score.
In a contest billed as the battle of the world’s two best one-day teams, the Proteas proved the series was likely to be anything but one-sided, with veteran Shaun Pollock claiming the first three wickets to finish with 3-30 off 10 overs.
Allrounder Andrew Hall also chipped in with 3-43 off 9,5 overs while newcomers Garnett Kruger and Monde Zondeki claimed one wicket apiece. The remaining Australian wickets were run-outs, the last falling with one ball still to bowl.
Coming into the match without injured strike bowlers Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt and Makhaya Ntini, the South Africans took it to the Australians from the first ball and didn’t let up.
When Lee came to the crease to join Hussey in their rearguard action the hosts were reeling at 71-6 off 18 overs.
It was a far cry from Australia’s first match in the series when they trounced Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Friday.
Pollock set the tone from the opening delivery, with Adam Gilchrist, who has been struggling to sustain the form that made him one of the world’s most feared one-day batsmen, dragging the ball onto his stumps.
It signalled the start of a top-order rout for the Australians, and in the third over Pollock struck again.
This time, Gilchrist’s opening partner Simon Katich edged an outswinger to South African captain Graeme Smith in the slips to leave Australia gasping at 4-2.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and then in-form Damien Martyn came to the crease and provided a brief respite, taking their side to 29 before Martyn became Pollock’s third victim of the day, bowled while trying to come down the wicket for 12.
The prized wicket of Ponting brought plenty of joy for Zondeki who took a good catch off his own bowling to dismiss Australia’s best batsman for 33.
Andrew Symonds, man of the match on Friday, could offer his team little support this time, caught behind off Hall for just nine. The same fate awaited Michael Clarke, who fell just seven runs later for eight.
Hussey and Lee then came to Australia’s rescue with the partnership finally ending after Hussey, who appeared to be suffering from the heat stress, bowled by Kruger for 73 off 108 balls.
Lee went on to make an impressive 57 off 69 balls but was eventually run out by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. – Sapa-AFP