South Africa dug considerably deep into their reserves of resilience in the early hours of this morning, as they defeated Australia by 47 runs in Guyana, with the bonus point propelling them to the top of the Tri-Nations series table.
What’s more, South Africa did so with a trio of frontline spinners in their side. Debutant Tabraiz Shamsi backed up the selectors’ faith with 1/36, though on another day he could have made off with at least three wickets, as his left-arm wrist spin gave AB de Villiers a tantalising new weapon to throw at Australia.
The scene had been set by Wayne Parnell’s exceptional start with the new ball, as he trapped the in-form David Warner in front with just his fourth ball back in the side. Parnell, so often a source of frustration at the highest level, immediately hit his straps, and also snared the scalp of Australian skipper Steve Smith, also leg-before.
Parnell and Shamsi had been roped in to replace Kyle Abbott and Chris Morris after the loss to the West Indies on Friday, and they both made a massive impact, on a wicket that was again low and slow.
Having won the toss and elected to bat first, the Proteas found new heroes at Guyana National Stadium, as Farhaan Behardien’s dogged 62 off 82 balls proved to be the glue that held South Africa’s total of 189/9 together.
The South African top-order had again flattered to deceive, though Quinton de Kock can feel aggrieved with his dismissal, having seen his leg-before decision taken upstairs, but still going against him. His opening partner, Hashim Amla, looked at ease, but was undone by a combination of confusion with De Villers and smart work from Smith at cover, to be run out for 35.
De Villiers went through a second straight innings without hitting a boundary, despite spending almost an hour at the crease. That startling stat alone told the tale of a wicket that suited the slow men.
It was surprising, then, that it was the Aussie pacemen who bust the game wide open, with Nathan Coulter-Nile’s double strike (De Villiers and JP Duminy) knocking the wind out of South Africa’s middle-order. When Josh Hazlewood bowled Parnell, one end looked open, with over 20 overs still to play.
Behardien, under pressure himself after a lean patch with the bat, lifted his side from the doldrums of 112/6 to almost 200, ushering the tail, and also scoring the odd boundary. He added a patient 37 with Aaron Phangiso (9 off 41 balls) and then a more fluent 39 with Kagiso Rabada (15 not out), to give South Africa’s bowlers something to defend.
The efforts of Phangiso and Rabada allowed Behardien to do the urgent repair job at the other end. That change in momentum with the bat continued into the field, as Parnell and then Rabada struck with the new ball.
For a long time, the Aussie’s sole hope was the powerful Aaron Finch (72), who jumped on anything short, and also sprayed several lofted drives into the stands.
Shamsi’s wicket did eventually come, though Glenn Maxwell was justified to fume as he did, with Smith having needlessly wasted the team’s review already. Phangiso, who had received a bit of tap from Finch upfront, returned to get his man, with a hand from a diving De Villiers at extra-cover.
As the weather turned, and Nathan Lyon (30 off 31 balls) grew bolder, the Proteas had to hold their nerve for a little longer. That they did, to bowl Australia out for 142, and leave Guyana with a smile. Well, everyone except the luckless Rilee Rossouw, who left the ground in a sling, having popped out his shoulder diving to save a precious run.
Cape Argus