South Africa v Australia ODI series – Combined XI

South Africa was chasing history when they came out to meet Australia in the fifth and the final ODI of the bilateral series. The series was a lop-sided one but the Australians still had a lot to look forward. There were staring at humiliation and it was Steven Smith’s last chance to salvage some pride. But, the home side once again superior proved to be superior and Australia despite all their effort had to kneel down and surrender. Rille Rossow’s sparkling century saw South Africa set another challenging total in front of the visitors. Australia, in response, underperformed just like they had been doing in the previous game and fell short of the target which would have been achievable had David Warner, who struck his second highest ODi score of 173, received some support from the other end. The Australian were running out of luck as David Warner was running out of partners. Australia cricket team has faced a bit of harsh treatment in the past couple of months. They are not used to be at the receiving end of such situations. The series saw splendid individual performances from both the sides. Quinton de Kock’s fiery century in the series opener, Skipper knock from Smith and Faf du Plessis. Warner fighting spirit, Imran Tahir’s spin bowling are some of the performances which defined the series. These individual performances cannot be forgotten in near future. And, it will quite fantastic to pick the outstanding performers from both the sides and combine them to form a best Combined XI of the series. 1. David Warner: Australian batsman David Warner celebrates scoring a century. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) David Warner was the top performer among both teams and ended as the highest run-getter of the series scoring 386 runs in five matches at an average of 77.20. This tally also includes fabulous knocks of 117 in the 3rd game and 173 in the final ODI apart from a half century. Warner was quite unfortunate as both his centuries in the series end up in losing cause. But, efforts were applaudable. No other Aussies batsman could perform to the extent he did. He completely outshined his teammates. No one was even close to his overall figures (Steven Smith with 151 runs is seated at a distant second in the run-getters list for Australia). 2. Quinton de Kock: South African batsman Quinton De Kock plays a shot during the third ODI between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead cricket stadium on October 5, 2016 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo credit GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Quinton de Kock continued flattering cricket fans with his batting style. The baby-faced cricketer scored 300 runs at an average of 60. His only problem was consistency. The series began on a dazzling note, thanks to his record breaking 178 off just 113 balls studded with 11 sixes and 16 fours. The following game was a dud where he was dismissed for just 22. He made a strong comeback in the 3rd match to hit a fine half-century but failed to give any noteworthy performances in the remaining two matches scoring only 18 and 12 runs. 3. Faf Du Plessis: Faf Du Plessis of South Africa. (Photo by Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Faf du Plessis had a fantastic series. Coming as the stand-in skipper replacing g the injured AB de Villiers, Du Plessis had very little facts to worry about. The most commendable part of his stint was the utilisation of players in the squad. He ensured that everyone in 16 ma squad got an opportunity to play. He rotated his players without disturbing the balance in the line-up. Faf du Plessis was successful with the bat as well and ended the series with an impressive 250 runs in five matches at an average of 50. His best knock of the series was the 111 runs knock in the 2nd ODI. This performance ensured a smooth win for the home side and also earned him a Man of The Match award. 4. Rilee Rossouw: South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw . (Photo credit RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images) Rilee Rossouw had a fantastic series scoring 311 runs in 5 matches at a staggering average of 77.75 to finish as South Africa’s highest run-getter in the series. Rossouw was initially not a part of the team and was called up to the squad as a replacement for AB de Villiers. However, he eventually ended up replacing an ill Hashim Amla and performed so well that Amla was overlooked for the third game despite getting fit, creating a sort of Amla versus Rossouw debate among cricket pundit. He cracked back to back half centuries in first two matches as an opener and later showed versatility by shifted to the middle order once Amla returned to the slot. He was silent in the next two games and could make only score just 18 and 33*. However, he made up for those silent outing with a spectacular 122 in the final match. 5. JP Duminy: JP Duminy of the Proteas. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images) JP Duminy did what he does the best – to provide the balance between ball and bat in the line-up. The all-rounder scored 209 runs at an average of 41.80 and bowled miserly spell with the bowl. His all-round contributions were overshadowed by other individual performers but they were hard to ignore. The series began on a dull note but he picked up momentum thereafter, cracking a stroke-filled 58 ball 82 runs knock in the second match to help South Africa set a mammoth 362 runs target. The following two games were not good for him with the bat. But, his economical bowling contributed in the victories. The southpaw came back strongly in the final match and gave a perfect finish to the series with a well-compiled 73 runs knock. 6. David Miller: South Africa’s batsman David Miller celebrates scoring a century. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) David Miller also had a good series and finished 193 runs with a strike rate of 142.96. It wasn’t an outstanding series for him, to be honest, but he made good contributions to the team. He played only one memorable knock. His heroic 118 runs innings in the 3rd match can be counted as the best knock of the series. Thanks to his knock, the Proteas chased down an improbable looking target of 372 runs to keep their winning momentum intact. Unfortunately, he had to miss the following game due to a groin injury. Miller, however, made a quick recovery and was back to full fitness for the final ODI. 7. Wayne Parnell: South African bowler Wayne Parnell. (Photo credit GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Wayne Parnell could feature in only two matches this series. Faf du Plessis’ idea of giving other new names an opportunity to play meant that Parnell could play in only the first two matches of the series and had to sit out for the most part of the series. Parnell, however, gave his best in both games. In the first match, he picked contributed with a spell of 1/36 while in the in the second match he upgraded his performance and returned with figures of 3/40. 8. Andile Phehlukwayo: South Africa’s bowler Andile Phehlukwayo. (Photo credit GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Andile Phehlukwayo proved his repute of that of a rising fast bowler by finishing as the highest wicket taker of the series. The right arm fast bowler, who plays for the Dolphin in the domestic arena, claimed 8 wickets in 5 matches to assure the Proteas selectors of is his bowling talent. He began the series with a fantastic 4/44 at Centurion to stun the Australians completely. He followed his headline-grabbing show with performances of 2/59, 1/58, 0/28 and 1/51. The former under-19 star who played alongside Kagiso Rabada at the junior level made full utilisation of opportunity he got in this series after grinding at the domestic for the last few years. 9. Chris Tremain: Australia’s Chris Tremain. (Photo credit should read MICHAEL SHEEHAN/AFP/Getty Images) Out of the three new fast bowlers Australia took to South Africa for this series, only Chris Tremain was able to impress, at least to some extent. The 27-year-old fast bowler from New South Wales fast bowler had a bad start to his international career. In the first ODI at Johannesburg, he was hammered for 78 runs in his ten overs spell in return of just one wicket. It was a tough game where De Kock ransacked him and all his bowling mates. But his performances improved gradually with each passing game and he eventually finished as Australia’s highest wicket taker with 7 scalps to his name in 5 matches. 10. Imran Tahir: South African bowler Imran Tahir. (Photo credit GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Imran Tahir was the most consistent bowler of the series. He found ways to snap wickets in all the four-game he played this series. His mixture of leg breaks, googlies and sliders were more than enough for the Australia to be kept quiet. His miserly spells in the middle overs were very frustrating for the opposition. The Aussies found it bit tough to attack the Tahir. His spells of 1/46, 1/31, 2/54, and 2/42 speak for his consistency. In all, he took 6 wickets at an economy of 4.67. The only bitter part about him in the series was his tussle with David Warner and umpires in the final ODI for which he was fined subsequently. 11. Kyle Abbott: South Africa’s bowler Kyle Abbott. (Photo by MICHAEL SHEEHAN/AFP/Getty Images) With Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada not performing to their standards, the onus fell on Kyle Abbot to make sure that the Proteas do not lack in the bowling department. The right arm fast bowler added strength to the Proteas pace bowling battery along with Andile Phelukwayo. His need arose only in the last two fixtures of the series. And, despite playing in just two matches, he ended up as the third highest wicket-taker of the series with 6 wickets. He was the wrecker in chief for Australia in the 4th match where he claimed 4/40 to help his team rattle the opposition for just 167 and setting up an easy win. This performance also earned him a Man of the Match award. The final ODI was also an impressive one for him and where he took 2/48 and played a key role in restricting Australia for just 296 while chasing 328 runs.

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