A century by Graeme Smith led South Africa to victory by six wickets in the first Standard Bank one-day international at Supersport Park on Sunday.
After Australia had made 229 for eight in 47 overs in a rain-affected match, South Africa wasted no time in getting runs on the board.
The match started 30 minutes late because of morning rain, and was interrupted for more than an hour when 40 overs had been bowled.
Set a target of 232 for victory, Smith and Boeta Dippenaar put on 24 runs before Dippenaar was bowled by Nathan Bracken for 10. Herschelle Gibbs (0) was brilliantly run out by Michael Clarke after Smith had hit the ball to mid-wicket. Clarke dived to stop the ball and then hit the stumps while still on the ground.
AB de Villiers joined his captain, and they shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 83 off 63 balls before the Nelson effect came into play, and De Villiers was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off Brad Hogg for 43 — his highest international score.
Mark Boucher made just four runs before he was run out after attempting a second run after a misfield.
The spin-bowling of Clarke and Brad Hogg kept the South Africans in check, but the home side were always ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis run rate.
Just as Smith reached his sixth one-day international century, off 110 balls, it started raining again. When the players returned, the number of overs had been reduced again, to 41, and South Africa’s target was revised to 204.
Australia’s pace-bowler Brett Lee proved expensive, conceding 59 runs off his 10 overs, but Nathan Bracken was much more economical, taking one for 27 off eight overs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia — who had only 11 fit players, with Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Stuart Clark all on the injury list — got off to a poor start, losing three wickets in the first eight overs.
Makhaya Ntini, looking more in touch than he had done in the Pro20 match on Friday night, accounted for Simon Katich (2) and Gilchrist (14), while Shaun Pollock was awarded a controversial lbw decision to dismiss Damien Martyn (1).
Clarke and Michael Hussey did much to improve Australia’s position, with a century partnership off 142 deliveries. The return of Pollock brought the partnership to an end when De Villiers took a splendid diving catch to dismiss Clarke for 53. Pollock struck again in his next over, when Hussey was caught on the boundary by Boeta Dippenaar for 56.
Shane Watson and Brad Hogg put on 25 runs together before Hogg was run out 13 by a direct throw at the stumps by Herschelle Gibbs.
The partnership between Watson and Brett Lee was interrupted by a 66-minute rain break, but when they returned, they batted with urgency. Their final partnership was 51 runs off 41 deliveries, but Andrew Hall shattered Watson’s wicket and sent him back for 22.
Nathan Bracken came in with all guns blazing, and hit Ntini for two massive sixes before a suicidal attempt at a run gave Ntini the opportunity to whip his bails off.
Andre Nel came in for some punishment, conceding 21 runs off his last over, but Pollock was as economical as ever, taking three wickets for 23 runs in his 10 overs.
The second match in the series — which is to be dedicated to Archbishop Desmond Tutu — is to be played at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. — Sapa