South Africa v Australia, 2008-09
Wisden's review of South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, 2008-09
Neil Manthorp
15-Apr-2010
At Cape Town, April 9, 2009 (day/night). South Africa won by 25 runs. Toss: South Africa.
Kallis and de Villiers added a composed and chanceless 114 for the third wicket in 22 overs, to
provide the bedrock for some highly effective late thrashing from Boucher and Morkel, which
propelled South Africa close to 300 on a pitch where the par score looked about 250. Given the
difficulties of batting under lights at Newlands, particularly at the extreme ends of the season,
Australia were always up against it. They would have been completely out of the contest had Johnson
not kept South Africa in check with a couple of fine spells, as clever as they were hostile. Van der
Merwe's slow left-armers are a great deal more subtle than his slogging, and he was responsible for
two of the first four wickets to fall by actually spinning the ball as well as varying his pace. At 114
for five the contest died, and was never resuscitated. Attractive half-centuries from Ferguson (his
second in a row) and Hopes hauled Australia to within 25 runs - but it might as well have been 125.
Man of the Match: J. H. Kallis.