The middle disorder

20 November 2014 - 02:34 By Telford Vice
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HASH UP: Hashim Amla's wonderful 102 against Australia at Canberra yesterday wasn't enough. South Africa lost by 73 runs
HASH UP: Hashim Amla's wonderful 102 against Australia at Canberra yesterday wasn't enough. South Africa lost by 73 runs
Image: MARK METCALFE/GETTY IMAGES

Both sides wore green and gold, but that was far from the only similarity between Australia and South Africa in the third one-day international in Canberra yesterday.

The key difference, however, was that Australia won by 73 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Both teams enjoyed the stability that comes with an opener scoring a century, and with a stand of more than 100 for the first wicket. Both reached 50 off fewer than 60 balls, and 100 as well as 200 in around a run a ball. After 25 overs, Australia were 137/1 and the Proteas 139/1.

But it was the Australians who made it all count. South Africa did not because their last six wickets went down for 32 runs in 43 balls.

Not for the first time, the Proteas' undoing was their middle order going Awol when they were needed most. They should be thankful cricket is not war, where deserters are taken out and shot.

"It's always difficult on these kinds of decks, where it's a bit slower and there's a bit of reverse swing and the ball's getting softer and green, and it's difficult to see," De Villiers said.

Hashim Amla scored his 17th century in the format, a wonderful 102. AB de Villiers' emphatic 52 off 36 balls was just the 12th time in his 174 ODIs that he has reached 50 in a losing cause.

Quinton de Kock, who shared 108 for the first wicket with Amla, looked set for big things before holing out off a top edge for 47.

The 76 that Amla and De Kock added for the fourth wicket was South Africa's only other noteworthy stand.

Not one of Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, Farhaan Behardien or David Miller could score more than Du Plessis's 17, and all resistance crumbled once De Villiers and Amla were dismissed .

The Aussie innings had told a different story. Aaron Finch scored 109 and put on 118 for the first wicket with David Warner, who made 53. Then Finch and Shane Watson piled on 71 for the second, followed by Finch and Steve Smith adding 53 for the third.

Once Finch had been clean-bowled by De Villiers in the 41st over, Smith took on the responsibility of squeezing every available run out of the innings. His 73 not out came off 55 balls and Australia totalled 329/5.

The Proteas could manage just 256/9 from 44.3 overs because Imran Tahir was absent, injured with a knee problem.

The teams next clash in Melbourne tomorrow.

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