South Africa beat Australia and level the series

Jacques Kallis scored 76 and Morne Morkel took four for 22 as South Africa beat Australia by 80 runs in the second one-day international to level the three-match series in Port Elizabeth. Four of the hosts' top six recorded half-centuries as they reached an imposing 303 for six before bowling their opponents out for 223 with David Warner the best of the Australians with a knock of 74. Michael Hussey and Steven Smith were the next highest scorers with 37 and 26 respectively with Australia hampered by Shane Watson's limited participation due to injury.

Although he managed to bowl 3.5 overs and came in to bat fifth, making 15, it was always going to be a tough task for the tourists without their star man and the South African attack took full advantage. As well as Morkel's fine effort from 10 overs, Lonwabo Tsotsobe completed with two for 32 and Dale Steyn two for 57 with Johan Botha taking the other wicket. Kallis led the way in the Proteas' innings with 76 while Graeme Smith (57), JP Duminy (56) and David Millar (59) also made effective contributions.

Smith and Kallis then put on 142 for the second wicket, while in the process collecting their 44th and 83rd ODI half-centuries, respectively. Duminy and Miller put on 107 runs in just 15.2 overs. Warner and Hussey put on 71.Warner got a top edge to Morkel's delivery with Boucher catch the ball over his shoulder for his 400th catch as South Africa wicketkeeper. Watson hit a six and a four before Tsotsobe delivered a slower ball which the Australian hit to Botha at deep square leg and Steven Smith went for 26, caught by Duminy off Morkel.

Read more »

Australia wins in rain-reduced match

Australia 183 for 4 (Ponting 63, Clarke 44) hit South Africa 129 (Johnson 3-20, Cummins 3-28) by 93 runs (D/L method)

South Africa unsuccessful to chase down a tough Duckworth/Lewis goal of 223 at Centurion as Australia won the first of a five-match one-day international series by 93 runs.

Batting second in a match cleaned out by the weather - play was held-up for four and a half hours as violent storm engulfs the stadium - the hosts drooping to 129 all out in response to Australia's spirited 183 for four from a revise 29 overs.

Former captain Ricky Ponting starred with the bat for Australia, top-scoring with a easy 63, while there were important aid with the ball from debutants Pat Cummins (three for 28) and Mitch Marsh.

South Africa's rejoinder looked doomed from almost the moment it began; with former captain Graeme Smith recurring to the sheds after just five balls.

He played crossways a Doug Bollinger delivery and was sent on his way for four; bring Jacques Kallis to join Hashim Amla at the crease.

The pair crunch a maximum each but their 36-run partnership broken in the eighth over as Cummins took centre stage.

He got his first ODI wicket with just his ninth ball, attractive Kallis onward and inducing an edge that clean he up for 15, before having JP Duminy snared by Captain Michael Clarke at second slip two balls afterward.

Marsh quickly detached Amla, who had enthused on to 24, even though his maiden ODI scalp owed a lot to Brad Haddin's superb one-handed catch, before an instant of slight controversy at the end of the 13th over.

Xavier Doherty's ball draw a drive out of David Miller and Clarke claim a catch at point, but the third umpire was called over doubt over a bump ball.

Miller was accordingly given out for 11, and Doherty had two not long after when he attentive Mark Boucher in front for one - the choice given after Clarke review the original call.

Cummins then drop Johan Botha off Marsh, but the wickets kept coming as Mitchell Johnson detached Faf du Plessis for 27.

Dale Steyn (five) and Johan Botha (25) both departed to Johnson and Cummins as they chase quick runs and, when Marsh caught Lonwabo Tsotsobe to give Johnson figures of three for 20, the game was up.

Ponting and Hussey carried on in spite of, with Ponting bitter when he picked out Botha at toward the back point off Steyn, send-off Hussey to carry the fight, with small gifts from Haddin (nine) and Marsh (eight not out).

Read more »