South Africa celebrate after whitewashing Australia 5-0
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
A sensational 122 by South Africa batsman Rilee Rossouw saw his side weather David Warner’s blitz, beat Australia by 31 runs and complete a 5-0 series whitewash in Cape Town.
This was the first time Australia had been whitewashed 5-0 in an ODI series, with their previous worst being a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of England in 2012 with one game being abandoned due to heavy rain.
Choosing to bat first, South Africa got off to an encouraging start before losing openers Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla within the space of five balls for 12 and 25 respectively. Captain Faf du Plessis did not last long at the crease either as he was clean bowled by Joe Mennie for 11.
Having lost three wickets in quick succession, the Proteas were in desperate need of a partnership, which Rossouw and JP Duminy provided as they amassed a 178-run stand, which is the third-highest partnership for South Africa in ODIs against Australia. It was also the second-highest stand for any wicket in ODIs at Newlands.
Rossouw and Duminy both sailed past their fifties during their incredible partnership, but it was all brought to an end when Mennie removed Duminy for 73, which came off 75 balls and included eight boundaries.
Duminy scored his 24th ODI fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The runs kept flowing as a result of Rossouw and David Miller’s 51-run partnership, during which Rossouw registered his third ODI century, before he fell to Chris Tremain for 122 off 118 deliveries, which included 14 boundaries and two sixes.
Rossouw soaks in the moment after scoring his third ODI hundred
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
South Africa began to crumble after Rossouw’s dismissal and eventually finished on 327/8 off their 50 overs.
Tremain and Mennie picked up three wickets apiece, while Scott Boland snapped up two.
Chasing 328 to win, Australia got off to a quick start courtesy of Warner as he dominated most of the 72-run partnership he put together with Aaron Finch.
Finch, though, ended up being clean bowled by Imran Tahir for 19 before Australia captain Steven Smith suffered the same fate just two balls later.
To make things even worse, George Bailey was cleaned up by Andile Phehlukwayo for just two runs before Warner and Mitchell Marsh settled everything down with a 64-run partnership.
Even after Marsh fell for 35, Warner continued to take the attack to the Proteas as he and Travis Head accumulated a 90-run stand, during which he scored his ninth Test century, before Head was caught behind off the bowling of Kyle Abbott for 35.
Australia began to lose wickets at regular intervals after Head was back in the pavilion, but Warner continued to be a thorn in South Africa’s side until he was run out by Tahir for 173, which came off 136 balls and included 24 boundaries.
Warner’s sublime innings of 173 was not enough to see Australia to victory
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Warner made the highest score by an Australian batsman against South Africa, beating the 164 Ricky Ponting made in Johannesburg in March 2006. His score is also the second-highest in ODI history against South Africa and falls behind the 200 not out Sachin Tendulkar made in February 2010.
Once Warner was gone, Australia’s hopes of victory drastically faded and they were eventually bowled out for 296 when Boland was run out by Rossouw.
Abbott, Tahir and Kagiso Rabada took two wickets apiece, while Phehlukwayo claimed one.
Smith was gutted to have lost again, and said: “Phenomenal from Davey. The rest of us didn’t stand up. This has been a toughs series, we have been outplayed. They thoroughly deserve to go up. We haven’t played our best cricket. Disappointing, have to move on. One Shield game before SA come for the Test series. Starc is back. We have got to do a lot better than what we did here.”
Du Plessis was delighted to have whitewashed Australia 5-0, and said: “He (Warner) played an incredible knock, we had all the answers. A lot of credit to us as a team. Right through the series, different guys stood up. We were good with the ball. Whatever was thrown at us, we had the answers. Wake me up tomorrow and tell me it’s a dream. We were just too good for them. A lot of energy, guys backing themselves. This was a really important match for us, to take some momentum over to the Tests. Very nice heading over there with 5-0.”
Warner was named Man of the Match, and said: “Pleasing to get some runs on the board. Disappointing with the result. Tried to take it to the back end. Credit to SA, who were on top of us from the first game. Backed my instinct and played my game. You get some luck, you don’t get some luck, today was okay. We’ve got some starts, haven’t really built partnerships and haven’t played the complete game. We have to think quick. SA will come, ready to go (for the Tests).”
Rossouw was named Man of the Series, and said: “Special, finally crossing the three figures. Credit to JP who helped me there. I try to hit the ball as hard as possible. Takes a bit of getting used to (batting at various positions). If the captain and coach say you have to do it, you have to do it. Very emotional for me, you never know how many opportunities you will get to play for SA.”