Australia levelled the Standard Bank one-day international series against South Africa with a close-fought one-wicket victory at Kingsmead on Friday night, thanks largely to a magnificent knock by all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who made 76 off 71 balls.
Chasing a modest target of 247 to win, Australia got off to a flying start, with Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich putting on a first-wicket partnership of 87, before Jacques Kallis — playing in his first match of the series after a long lay-off for injury — took a very good catch off Andrew Hall to send Katich back to the dressing room with his score on 46.
Kallis’s contribution did not end there. AB de Villiers took a superb catch off Kallis’s first ball and Gilchrist also found himself traipsing back with his score on 45. He had hit eight fours and a six.
Not to be outdone, Roger Telemachus — brought into the team after an injury to Charl Langeveldt — took two wickets in the next over, both caught behind by Mark Boucher. The wicket of Damien Martyn (six) gave Telemachus his 50th one-day international scalp and he celebrated by getting the danger man — in-form Ricky Ponting — out for seven two balls later. Australia had lost three wickets for two runs in nine balls.
South Africa were somewhat hamstrung because of injuries to two players — Shaun Pollock needed treatment for a spasm in his lower back, and Boeta Dippenaar, dehydrated after his heroic century for South Africa, had to be placed on a drip.
Although Robin Peterson had been named as super-sub, the two captains agreed before the start of the series that they would not use the super-sub at any stage, so Graeme Smith was unable to make use of his spin bowling and Justin Kemp, who has not been bowling because of a shoulder injury, had to be brought into the attack.
Kallis struck again in the 32nd over, when Michael Clarke (seven) skied a ball, which Boucher took quite comfortably.
Symonds, playing his first match of the series, forced Smith out of the attack, hitting him for two sixes in his second over, during which he also bowled three wides and conceded a total of 19 runs.
Symonds and Michael Hussey put on 52 runs for the sixth wicket before Hussey was run out by Hall for 19.
With victory in sight, Symonds put his foot on the accelerator, and all the South Africans came in for punishment. However, Telemachus returned to the attack and bowled Symonds for 76 off 71 balls. Brett Lee went next ball, caught Boucher off Ntini for six and South Africa were back in the hunt.
However, with Australia needing less than a run a ball for victory, it was always going to be a big task. Andrew Hall raised South African hopes when he bowled Nathan Bracken for seven, but tail-enders Stuart Clark and Mick Lewis saw Australia through to victory by one wicket.
The deciding match takes place in Johannesburg on Sunday. — Sapa