Hall hundred secures eight wicket win for South Africa 'A'

Thanks to an inninngs of 118 from Andrew Hall and an opening partnership of 135 with Loots Bosman, South Africa `A' managed to avoid a whitewash by beating Australia A by eight wickets in Pietermaritzburg.

After a much-improved bowling performance from the South Africans, restricting the Australians to 199 in the 46th over, it was left to the hard-hitting Hall to take South Africa to their first win in the seven match series.

Going down 5-1 against a very good Australian team, the South Africans will have gained a lot of experience. It is now up to them to put the lessons learned into practice.

Winning the toss Neil McKenzie asked the Australians to bat on a pitch that helped the bowlers early on. His decision was confirmed with both the South African bowlers moving the ball through the air and off the seam.

Greg Blewett was out in the first over and Justin Langer followed soon after leaving the Australians at 9/2 within six overs. Andrew Symonds threw caution to the wind and after a quick 22 was caught behind off Andre Nel.

A 62-run partnership between Michael Hussey and Simon Katich rescued the Australian innings but once Katich fell for a patient 31, wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

Hussey, with a well-played 57, saw the end of any resistance and Australia had to settle for 199.

South Africa made a good and solid start in their chase of 200 in 50 overs to record their first and only victory of the seven match series.

Loots Bosman and Andrew Hall, opening the South African innings, got off to a quick start of 35 runs within the first five overs.

By the time Bosman was bowled for 42, the partnership had grown to 135 and South Africa well on its way to a deserved win.

Ashwell Prince, the only other South African to lose his wicket, scored 16 before he made way for McKenzie who finished the game with a six off Hogg in the 40th over.

It was the hard-hitting Hall, adjudicated as Man-of-the Match, who set up the convincing win. Batting through the innings he ended on 118, only the second hundred of the series. It was an innings that will long be remembered as one of the better one-day hundreds seen by an appreciative Pietermaritzburg crowd.

Justin Langer deservedly was adjudged Man-of-the-Series.