Australia Wins….But Cricket is Victorious!!!

What a game of cricket it was between two formidable sides. It was a clash of titans were each team had its moments, players had their moments of glory and it can be said, Australia did win the game but even South Africa didn’t lost (morally).

On Mar 12, 2014: 2nd T20I: South Africa v Australia at Durban was scheduled but it was the rain that struck the first blow to everyone and its see-saw game was making it more difficult for the ground staff to make the game happen. After a delay of over two and half an hour finally the match got under away. Australia won the toss and will bowl first, not sure what's a good enough score in a seven over rain affected shortened match.

South African Innings: To get a surprise Amla-de Kock pair started off the innings in a traditional manner. It can be argued that in a 7-over game SA would have been better placed if they had someone like Faf, Albie or Miller opening instead of Amla. At the end of 3 overs SA score was reflecting not so good runs on the board i.e. 11-1 were Amla was the to be dismissed by Coulter-Nile  on 4 in the second over and his first in the match catching him onto his own bowling resulting in a caught and bowled Amla c & b Coulter-Nile 4 (9). Then the captain entered the arena and started to get confidence with de Kock hitting some furious shots but it was de Kock’s night. Q de Kock started off from Watson’s over where he stuck a boundary followed by a huge Six straight back pass the bowlers head, then it was Faf’s turn to join the party and D. Christian was at the receiving end getting hit for a boundary and two Sixes in an over. Over by over both got comfortable at the crease and bowlers were getting just the opposite of it. Scoring at a brisk and steady pace, hitting a six in each over thereon from either of  the batsmen, South Africa managed to put up a challenging total on the score-board of 80/1 in 7 overs. Q de Kock 41*(20) and Faf du Plessis 27*(13).           

After a scratchy start, SA recovered to 80. Will that be enough against Australia's power hitters was the question before Australian innings?

Australian Reply: Bang-Bang pair of Finch and Warner went into their innings with all guns blassing scoring 21 runs in the opening over bowled by Tsotsobe. But Finch miscued a shortish ball to midwicket where Amla backpedals and takes it. Finch c Amla b Abbott 5 (5). Watson took over but he too quickly fell scooping straight to cover to a low full toss. Watson c Abbott b Parnell 2(3). But it didn’t had any effect on the Warner carrying on his business of trashing the opposition bowlers all over the park. He was well in control over the game till the golden arm of Duminy did the trick for the SA in the 4th over of the innings. Warner lbw b Duminy 40 (16). Warner blasted with five 4’s and two 6’s in his 22min tenure. Then Duminy struck second blow in the same over getting better off Maxwell. Maxwell c du Plessis b Duminy 1 (3). Australia were off the track with two new batsmen on the pitch but then again captain got run-out at a crucial juncture, confusion in the calling caused the downfall. Bailey run out Miller-de Kock 2(2). At the end of six overs Austraila were 66/5, 15 runs required from 6 balls to win. Parnell took the charge of bowling the decisive over. He started off extremely well giving two runs from two deliveries. But again B. Hodge blistered with two back to back sixes to call it for the Australians with two balls remaining.

• Brad Hodge is the Man of the Match
• Australia leading the series at 1-0 going into Centurion on Friday.

Just to mention, match was played on Memorial Day of 438-game 8th year anniversary.

Keep enjoying cricket and keep reading.

#$D