Australia beat South Africa by 2 wickets to complete 4-1 thrashing

Australia vs South Africa 5th ODI review:

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch which was expected to be slowish as the ground staff built towards a peak of pace and bounce for January’s New Year’s Test. Rilee Roussouw and Morne Morkel were back in the XI for AB de Villiers (who had suffered a slight rib injury in the last game) and Dale Steyn. Which also meant Hashim Amla was captaining the young side. Australia made just one change, with Josh Hazlewood replacing the injured Nathan Coulter-Nile.

South African openers Quinton De Kock and Hashim Amla saw off the first 10 overs of the innings with ease but a bowling change by the Aussie captain in the 11^th over turned out to be a big boon for Australia. Maxwell bowled a fuller delivery drifting further and further away from Amla (18 runs from 28 balls) , but was tempted by the gap at midwicket, closing the face in hope of picking it, but ended up edging it to the keeper, Wade. Rilee Roussouw was the next man in at No. 3. Roussouw and De Kock formed a big partnership before Rilee Roussouw (51 runs from 71 balls) got out in the 33^rd over but not before he had completed his maiden Half-Century. After a short rain break, Cummins got the wicket of Faf Du Plessis (2 runs from 3 balls) on the 1^st ball after the rain delay. It was a slower ball just outside off, Faf pushed the ball back, but played early and had to check it in the end, the ball went slow and lobbed towards mid-off where Bailey had to dive low and in front to his right for a good catch. Miller couldn’t produce a birthday gift for his mom as he was out for a paltry 5 runs after playing 12 balls. Miller went into a sweep way too early, got a top edge off a full toss ball that was easily pouched by Cummins. Farhaan Behardien walked in next with South Africa needing to rebuild. Kock completed his 6^th ODI ton and the first by a South African at the SCG in 50-over cricket in the 39^th over. Cummins got De Kock (107 runs from 123 balls) caught behind in the 41^st over. The umpire wasn’t willing to give him out, but eventually had to as Kock walked off. Behardien played a flawless innings making 63 runs off just 41 balls with Parnell supporting him well at the other end. At the end of 50 overs South Africa posted a competitive score of 280/6 for Australia to chase.

Finch and Warner started off in usual fashion, hitting fours and sixes at will but a beautiful catch by Robin Peterson ended David Warner’s inning. Watson came in at No. 3 and display exquisite timing from the word go. Finch was the next man to go after forming a century stand with Watson. Peterson tossed this ball up on off stump as Finch lifted it towards Faf on the edge of the extra cover boundary where he took it with a reverse cup, but his momentum was taking him back, so he threw it to Rossouw who completed the catch. Steve Smith, one of the biggest reasons of Australia winning this series came in next but looked a pale shadow of his last 2 innings with him not getting his timing right. Morkel took the wicket of Watson in the 37^th over to keep South African hopes alive. Smith took it from there and made it easy for the Australians to complete a 4-1 victory over South Africa at home but not before a flurry of wickets which were needlessly thrown away by the Australian batsmen.

Quinton De Kock was adjudged the Man of the Match for his century in losing cause.

Steven Smith was announced as the Man of the Series for his three match winning knocks on the trot.