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Johan Botha - Source: Getty Images -
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David Warner showed he wasn't a one-hit wonder but it was South
Africa that struck the perfect notes in their three-wicket one-day
triumph at the SCG.
Stocky Sydneysider Warner bludgeoned the Proteas in his knock of 69
off 60 balls but he received precious little support in Australia's
269 from 49.2 overs in their day-night clash.
In reply, Herschelle Gibbs (64 from 52 balls) started the job and
man of the match Albie Morkel (40 off 22 balls) finished it off as
the tourists won the clash with 21 balls to spare.
The result handed South Africa a 2-1 lead in the five-match series
heading into game four on Australia Day in Adelaide.
Chasing 270 to win, Australia handed the Proteas the opportunity
for a flying start by giving both Hashim Amla (13) and Gibbs lives
in the first over of their reply.
It ended up costing them dearly as Gibbs' scintillating knock meant
the target remained in reach despite South Africa losing 4-38 in
the middle of their reply.
Morkel was also grassed early in his innings by Shaun Tait in the
deep as Australia were made to pay for their mistakes in the
field.
It was the highest successful run chase in a one-day international
at the SCG.
After Ricky Ponting opted to bat, the question was whether Warner
could cut the mustard after backing up his spectacular Twenty20
debut with two failures.
By his standards, he played his way into his innings before peeling
15 runs off Dale Steyn in the fourth over on the way to reaching
his half century off 41 balls.
Warner displayed his unorthodox ways with an audacious hook shot
for six off Jacques Kallis as he and Shaun Marsh put on an opening
stand of 114 off 18.5 overs.
It was a welcome performance for national selectors so soon after
Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden's retirements.
However after Warner has his stumps scattered by Steyn, Proteas
skipper Johan Botha (3-32 from 10 overs) dragged his side back into
the contest as Australia lost their last nine wickets for
125.
No side had scored more than 260 in a successful run chase at the
ground.
But Australia handed the visitors a head start with Ponting and
David Hussey dropping Amla and Gibbs respectively in the opening
over by Tait.
Amla only reached 13 before falling in a comical mix-up but Gibbs
made the most of his chance with an enterprising knock.
Mitchell Johnson had Gibbs caught at first slip and Nathan Bracken
soon after sent AB De Villiers (5) packing.
Even the classy JP Duminy (9) couldn't steady the innings, a ball
from spinner Nathan Hauritz staying low and hitting his off
stump.
Jacques Kallis (60 off 72 balls), who became just the eighth
cricketer to reach 10,000 one-day international runs in his
innings, fell two balls later to Tait.
His dismissal left the Proteas at 5-163 before Neil McKenzie (27)
and Mark Boucher (31no) pushed the score to 208 when Warner's arm
brought McKenzie undone.
That brought Morkel to the crease and he smashed 14 off a Johnson
over with four of those runs coming off a dropped catch by Tait in
the deep.
Another heart stopper looked on the cards before Morkel smashed his
team to the brink of victory.
