Proteas rule the roost

Proteas rule the roost

30 Jan 2009

Victory at the Waca has elevated South Africa to No 1 on the ODI rankings.

Debutant Lonwabo Tsotsobe took four wickets to close out the final ODI against Australia allowing the Proteas to record a 4-1 series win. Mickey Arthur was left eating his own words, his claims that the Proteas were not ready for the burden of No 1 status rubbished by a team missing Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn.

The Proteas climbed to 288-6 after starting at a crawl, and it was the middle order that did the job for the visitors once again. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared a partnership reminiscent of their previous outing, putting on 118 until De Villiers holed out in the deep.

Amla hung around until he wafted at a James Hopes nothing ball, edging it and in the process throwing away a deserved century.

This left the Proteas’ hopes of a strong finish squarely on JP Duminy’s shoulders. The young maestro didn’t disappoint and together with the lower order scored 92 runs in the final 10 overs.

Duminy and Botha demonstrated deft touches of improvisation in the final overs, leaving alice-banded Australian miser Nathan Bracken’s bowling figures in tatters.

In contrast Australia’s chase was shaky at the offset. They lost Shaun Marsh and Ricky Ponting to sharp catches in Tsotsobe’s first spell. Wayne Parnell saw to the dismissal of David Warner as a straight drive ricocheted from Parnell’s hand and cannoned into the stumps at the non strikers end. It seemed to be South Africa’s day.

The home side regained their composure with the Hussey brothers at the crease, but the time they took to steady the ship ultimately sank it. Their 69-run partnership was ended by the Botha-Duminy combination that plagued the Australian death bowlers.

Michael Hussey continued after the fall of his brother reaching 78 with Brad Haddin capitalizing on a well-timed batting powerplay to blast the Australians into serious contention. His 63 brought the game into a tense final five overs, but it was not enough to deny the South Africans victory and the ODI crown.

The standouts with the ball for the Proteas were Tsotsobe and Botha, who produced a tight spell spectators have come to expect from the Proteas skipper in this series.

Though the Proteas have stood head and shoulders above the Australians, Arthur’s belief that both the Test and ODI top spots should be secured and consolidated at home remains valid.

South Africa’s No 1 ranking will be temporarily relinquished if Australia overcomes New Zealand on 1 February. Looking at New Zealand’s form against the lack-luster West Indies, a much needed Aussie victory seems more than likely in the trans-Tasman clash.

Perhaps more telling than taking the No 1 ranking is Botha’s faith in the talent of debutants Parnell and Tsotsobe, who were trusted with the responsibility of bowling out the innings. The ability to rest key players and experiment in such a way whilst still claiming victory highlights the depth now present in South African cricket.

The only headache remaining for Proteas selectors is who to leave out for the upcoming home series against the apprehensive Australians. This is a headache that will induce stability rather than aspirin for Proteas management, finally having the depth to form multiple combinative options.

Let the quest to balance old heads and new blood begin.

South Africa – 288-6 in 50 overs
Hashim Amla 97, JP Duminy 60*, AB de Villiers 60, James Hopes 3-44.
Australia – 249 all out in 49 overs
Michael Hussey 78, Brad Haddin, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 4-50.
South Africa won by 39 runs.

For the full scorecard click here.

By Rory Keohane


1,079 Comments

Pages: « 1 … 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 [22] Show All

  • 1051.carol: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:32 am

    #1044 JimT: At this point I sense danger and run to the hills, the fight or flight instinct kicks in after 3 glasses!!

  • 1052.carol: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:33 am

    #1050 JimT: Was Tom wearing a fake tan and a toupee?

  • 1053.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:34 am

    #1047 carol: Clever girl. Go to the head of the class & here’s your gold star ( a round of applause too) :-)

  • 1054.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:35 am

    # carol: But I’m harmless. Uncle Jimmy :-)

  • 1055.carol: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:36 am

    Well thanks for the entertainment boys…….you never know, I may look in another time…….sorry!! :-)

    Rob, enjoy your surfing, XXXXX Jim, what can I say? XXXXX

    Cheetaj and Scar you can talk boys stuff now!! Outta here

  • 1056.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:36 am

    #1043 carol:

    Oh daughter of darkness
    Stay out of my life, my life
    You took my heart and broke it apart, you daughter of darkness
    Daughter of darkness
    Please, leave me alone forever
    Oh devil daughter of darkness, gone is the love that we shared together
    Oh daughter of darkness
    Stay out of my life, my life

    It is not Dylan, but for a love sick 13 year old in the seventies it meant a lot!

  • 1057.carol: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:36 am

    K9, thought you had gone again, Nite and did you speak to Jezza?

  • 1058.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:37 am

    #1052 carol: Not that I could tell. Definitely not a tan & Iwould think a toupee might slip around a bit in the hot tub :-)

    Does he wear both now?

  • 1059.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:37 am

    #1055 carol: Bye Carol. It’s been fun XX

  • 1060.carol: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:38 am

    #1056 Robzim: A broken heart at 13!! Bless you……I was only interested in ponies at 13!!

  • 1061.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:39 am

    #1060 carol:

    Cheers Carol, have fun!!

  • 1062.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:44 am

    #1057 carol: Nite Carol. No I didnt. Im half asleep…..typing is an effort.#1056 Robzim: That song has been in my head since Tom Jones was mentioned here. Still like it. She’s a Lady is also a favourite. #1058 JimT: I will never get into a hottub with Tom Jones :roll:

  • 1063.scar: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:44 am

    Hello and goodbye Carol!

  • 1064.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:47 am

    #1062 K9_BaasPatrolliehond:

    Yeah, those were the days but, I agree, the hottub with Tom sounds a bit dodgy.

  • 1065.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:51 am

    #1062 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: LOL. It was not my plan, he happened to be there :-)

  • 1066.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:51 am

    #1064 Robzim: We were just good friends LOL :-)

  • 1067.JimT: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:54 am

    Afraid I’ve left an odd, to say the least, image of myself here tonight. Me & Tom Jones LMAO.

    Gotta go, see y’all on the other side of the hill :-)

  • 1068.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:57 am

    #1065 JimT: Yeah yeah……sure :lol: Nite JimT.

  • 1069.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:57 am

    Nite everybody……..think I should catch up on some sleep.

  • 1070.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 00:59 am

    #1067 JimT:

    See u Jim, one day K9 and I might understand, we are still catching up here in Africa :)

  • 1071.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 04:22 am

    #599 edge66:
    Nothing to do with Roger’s great grandmother.
    His mother Linda was born inn SA, Kempton Park to be precise.
    She married a Swiss and Roger was born over there.

  • 1072.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 05:39 am

    Congrats to SA. Watched the game. Fantastic

  • 1073.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 05:43 am

    What a sad bunch the Australians were giving up and just trying to keep the score respectable. All these years with losing teams that have tried so hard against them to the end and as soon as they are losers they give up

  • 1074.modawg: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 09:59 am

    Congrats to the proteas, what a fantastic performance, i am a very proud proteas supporter right now, we just need to shut out the ozzies in SA, then the victory will be complete. And it’s not going to be easy.

  • 1075.khoisanking: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 11:15 am

    1071 pietman:you are nothing but a big joke trying to get stuck into the new boy nearly 500 posts later.i understand keo gave you the job to sort out new bloggers after you successfully met their one and only requirement,the one of needing to be a brainless idiot.

  • 1076.Puma: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 16:02 pm

    Well done to our cricket team on the magnificent win. Now for the return series.

  • 1077.Puma: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 16:12 pm

    Number one in the odi’s now. Soon it can be the tests too. Just have to beat those Aussies when the come here. Go Proteas. Very proud of our test and odi cricket team.

  • 1078.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 16:23 pm

    #1077 Puma:
    Ditto oerwoudkat!
    See you in SA.

  • 1079.Puma: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2009, 16:49 pm

    #1078 Pietman: Howzit Piet, Jeez you will be so pleased you are coming home soon. When are you coming Piet? If I don’t see you here before you travel. Have a safe and great trip back home boet.

Pages: « 1 … 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 [22] Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.