Australia coasted to a seven-wicket victory over the Blue
Label Telecoms Proteas with 44 balls to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
on Friday to square the three-match T20 International Series at 1-1.
The match was almost an exact microcosm of the previous
match at Adelaide with the team that batted first never getting their innings
off the ground and losing wickets at regular intervals which prevented any
notable partnerships from being established.
Having said that, there was no reason to question JP
Duminy’s decision to bat first. There was plenty of pace and bounce for the
quicker men but it was still a very good batting surface on which a total
somewhere between 160 and 170 would have been considered par.
Duminy (49 off 51 balls, 3 fours and a six) did his best to
hold the innings together but the Proteas’ final total of 101 was pretty well
undefendable.
The Australians bowled well in pairs with Doug Bollinger and
James Faulkner each taking a wicket up front and then Cameron Boyce (2/15) and
Patrick Cummins (1/11) dominating the middle overs as the Proteas managed only
9 fours and a six in their innings.
Once Australia had posted 53/1 by the end of the power play
overs there was no way for South Africa back into the match. The home captain,
Aaron Finch, finished unbeaten on 44 (30 balls, 8 fours) while Wayne Parnell
(2/17 in 3.4) was the pick of the Protea attack.
The series decider will be played at Stadium Australia in
Sydney on Sunday (10.30am start). There will be live television broadcast on
SuperSport (SS2) and radio coverage on the SABC (2000FM).
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