Faf du Plessis’s sixth One-Day International century provided the platform and then South Africa’s fast bowlers put on a show as the Proteas opened up 2-0 lead in the Momentum ODI series against Australia.
The home team won by 142 runs at the Wanderers on Sunday, bowling the world champions out for 219 in the 38th over.
Du Plessis’s innings of 111 was the bedrock upon which South Africa built a big total of 361/6, with JP Duminy, 82 and Rilee Rossouw, 75, also making substantial contributions.
Though Australia manfully set about chasing the target, they lost wickets at regular intervals, as the stark difference between the two teams’ seam bowlers came to the fore.
Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell are all able to propel the ball at speeds in excess of 140 km/h, something the Australia attack, missing the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins for this tour aren’t able to do.
Earlier on Sunday South Africa’s captain batted beautifully for his third ODI century against the Australians. He mixed clinical stroke-play with excellent running between the wickets sharing a pair of crucial partnerships along the way.
South Africa’s selection caused some surprises, when the selectors chose to omit Hashim Amla from the starting XI despite the prodigious opener having recovered from the flu. It was not a decision that Du Plessis could explain when he was interviewed at the toss. Michael Clarke the former Australian captain, watching the game on TV in Sydney was stunned. “Every team is different I guess. Interested to know if Hashim is cool with this? SA need him playing well before they land in Aussie,” Clarke tweeted.
The Australians dropped Scott Boland and Daniel Worrall from the team that was beaten in first ODI on Friday, giving first caps to Joe Mennie and Chris Tremain.
Neither were especially threatening. In fact, there’s a sameness to the Australian attack and with none of their bowlers blessed with high pace, nothing to frighten the South African batsmen.
Rossouw bossed proceedings after Quinton de Kock was out early for 22. He drove the ball powerfully on his way to a seventh ODI half-century. His partnership with Du Plessis for the second wicket was 76, and he eventually departed for 75 heaving Hastings to Worrall - on as a substitute. It was another opportunity wasted though for Rossouw and just like Friday, when he was out reverse sweeping, he gifted his wicket to the Australians.
Thereafter though, South Africa dominated, led by Du Plessis, who in conjunction with JP Duminy put on 150 for the third wicket in just 18 overs.
It was a very intelligent partnership, the running between the wickets was good, and Duminy in particular struck some beautiful shots especially once he’d registered his 50.
Du Plessis’s innings featured 13 fours and when it was eventually completed came off just 93 balls.
Duuminy’s 82 was thoroughly entertaining and came off just 58 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
South Africa scored 97 runs in the last 10 overs to push their total past 350, although there was a sense that they could have done better.
Australia needed one of their top four batsmen to match Du Plessis’ effort, but that didn’t happen. Dave Warner played within himself to score 50 before slapping a long-hop to Dave Miller, who moved sharply at midwicket to claim a very good catch. That was the best an Australian batsman could muster as they all struggled against the extra pace from the South Africans.
The wickets were shared around, with Parnell claiming three, Rabada and Andile Phehlukwayo two each and the rest one.