SA's historic Aussie whitewash
Not even a great century by Warner could stop Faf's Proteas recording a magnificent 5- 0 series victory
Fifth ODI
South Africa:327/8 (Rossouw 122, Duminy 73, Mennie 3/49)
Australia:296 all out (Warner 173, Tahir 2/42, Abbott 2/48)
SA won by 31 runs, series 5-0
Newlands - Five-nil! Remember the scoreline, for it is the first time in the history of Australian One-Day International cricket that the world champions have suffered such humiliation. And forever it will read that it was Faf du Plessis’s Proteas that inflicted the pain.
The Aussies lifted themselves off the canvas and dusted off their bloodied nose from four previous beatings to put up an almighty fight to maintain their record at this packed arena here on Wednesday night, but it was all in vain.
Not even one of the great ODI innings from David Warner could deny the Proteas their magical moment. Sure Quinton de Kock dropped him when he had just 11, but this innings was different from the century at Kingsmead two matches ago because it required him to control proceedings almost single-handedly from the start. Australia only ever have had a chance of hauling in South Africa’s 327/8 if the feisty left-hander remained at the crease for all of the 50 overs. He ultimately fell 17 balls short, and Australia lost by 31 runs.
There were cameos from Mitchell Marsh (35) and Travis Head (35), but this was “The Warner Show”,with the 29-year-old revving himself up for the battle through a heated exchange with Imran Tahir. But no man, not even a maverick like Warner on his own, could pull off what would have been the highest successful ODI chase at Newlands.
And that is ultimately what has been the difference between the teams during this series. Every time South Africa has needed someone to step up, there has been a willing and able contributor.
With Australia requiring 41 off the final 18 deliveries, it was Tahir who ended Warner’s magical innings with a bullet throw from the cover boundary to wicketkeeper De Kock to catch the dynamic left-hander short of his crease.
It was only fitting that Tahir ran Warner out for the duo had earlier required the umpires and former Test captain Hashim Amla to separate them. It was a masterful art of gamesmanship from Warner in a bid to distract Tahir from his primary mission, for the leg-spinner had once again turned the game on its head. He had bowled Aaron Finch and captain Steve Smith within three balls of each other early on in the run-chase.
Tahir’s celebrations, with the usual wild sprint and chest-beating, certainly showed he was up for anything the Aussies might have in store for him.
With Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada also chipping away with two wickets apiece while Warner was at the non-striker’s end, the Proteas bowlers ensured a record 178-run partnership for the fourth wicket between centurion Rilee Rossouw and JP Duminy did not go to waste.
The two southpaws came to the crease with South Africa in a spot of bother at 52/3 in the 11th over after the beleaguered Australian bowling attack appeared to finally have found a way to make inroads into the Proteas batting line-up.
But just as David Miller rose to the occasion in Durban a couple of game ago, it was Rossouw who took upon the role of aggressor here by striking his third ODI century, from 100 balls.
There were some sublime blows square of the wicket, with Rossouw unleashing a flurry of cut shots, while he also pulled with authority. However, the feature of his innings was how he transferred his weight on to the front foot, driving straight down the ground with extreme power.
Content for his partner to take on the Australian bowling attack, Duminy quietly accumulated at the other end through elegant late-cuts and an understanding of the field and he eased the ball through the gaps without exerting much power.
The Star