South Africa cruise to an easy 7 wicket win to take the series 3-0

South Africa vs Australia

South Africa vs Australia

Thanks to all-round performance, South Africa cruised to an easy 7 wicket win over visitors Australia in the 3rd and final One day international played at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom on Saturday.

South African captain Quinton de Kock won the toss and decided to field first. It was a superb start by Anrich Nortje and Sipamla who kept tight line to Warner and Finch. Nortje provided the breakthrough dismissing dangerous Warner for just 4. Steve Smith looked in fine touch with some lovely boundaries while Aaron Finch was not so attacking with his approach. At the end of 10 overs, Australia were 38 for 1.

After the power play overs, Phehlukawyo dismissed Steve Smith with a review call by Smith. The umpire gave it out and Smith decided to review the decision, the decision stood it out as was umpire call. Dupavilon who made his debut got the big wicket of Australian captain Aaron Finch with a good catch by David Miller to leave the visitors at 55 for 3. Marnus Labuschagne and Darcy Short steadied the Australian innings rotating strike and hitting occasional boundaries. JJ Smuts provided the breakthrough dismissing Short with a simple catch to Klassen. Short and Labuschagne added 81 runs for the 4th wicket.

Marnus Labuschagne

Mitchell Marsh looked in fine touch while Labuschagne reached his fifty off 59 balls. Marsh timed the ball against JJ Smuts. A superb diving effort by Miller and throw to de Kock ended Marsh innings. Marsh and Labuschagne added 53 runs for the 5th wicket. In the same over, Smuts dismissed Alex Carey to leave Australia in trouble at 189 for 6. Labuschagne took the attack to South African bowlers in the final few overs and was well supported by Jhye Richardson. Labuschagne reached his maiden century off 100 balls. He was dismissed off the 2nd last ball by Nortje. Richardson and Labuschagne added 64 runs for the 7th wicket. Australia posted 254 for 7 in 50 overs.

Chasing 255 runs to win, Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan looked in fluent touch against Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson. Hazelwood got the breakthrough for Australia dismissing South African captain de Kock for 26. South African openers added 47 runs in 8.1 overs. At the end of 10 overs, South Africa were well placed at 54 for 1.

Hazlewood struck immediately after the power play overs dismissing Malan for 23. JJ Smuts and Verreynne looked in great touch taking on Australian bowlers with good stroke play. Smuts was given not out, and Australia decided to review it, the decision stood it. Verreynne reached his fifty off just 48 balls. He was dismissed 2 balls later by Zampa. Smuts and Verreynne added 96 runs for the 3rd wicket.

Smuts looked in good touch and reached his fifty off just 62 balls. Heinrich Klassen continued his superb form with power-play strokes. Both complemented each other and made sure that South Africa are course of the target. Klassen reached his fifty off 56 balls. Klassen and Smuts added 75 runs for the 4th wicket. Klassen hit 16 runs off Jhye Richardson bowling to complete the target with 27 balls to spare.

South Africa 258 for 4 in 45.3 overs (Heinrich Klassen 68*, JJ Smuts 84, Hazlewood 2/37) beat Australia 254 for 7 in 50 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 108, Darcy Short 36, Nortje 2/35, JJ Smuts 2/42) by 6 wickets.

JJ Smuts was awarded the player of the match for his 84 and 2 for 42. Klassen was awarded the man of the series with 2 half-centuries and 1 century.