It was a perfect day for the bowlers in the 2nd ODI as they found themselves in thick of the things at Perth and made the batsmen hop, heaving and tottering at the lively WACA pitch on Sunday. South Africa, meanwhile, managed to put the series on level terms with some firing bowling and patience batting.
Proteas pacer Morne Morkel set up the game for the visitors by picking his career best figures of 5/21 and demolished the Australian batting order. Dale Steyn was again impressive with three wickets, while Vernon Philander and Farhaan Behardien chipped in with one wicket each.
Morne and the WACA pitch looked like a match made in the heavens as the African pacer teased the opposition batsmen with pace, bounce and zip throughout. The Aussies had no answer of Morkel’s fierce bowling as he ripped through Australia’s middle-order.
“To start well was important, in that first over,” Morkel said after the match. “Always love to bowl at the WACA with the bounce. To take a five-for against this quality line-up is going into the memory bank for me.”
The hosts only managed to put a paltry 154 on the board and it wasn’t enough, despite the assistance given by the pitch. They never recovered from the early jolts given by the Proteas pacers and struggled to make the partnerships.
Although, there was one time when the innings finally got some momentum when skipper George Bailey and Mitchell Marsh were batting. But, as Bailey (25) was dismissed, Morkel and company took no time in bundling the hosts inside 50 overs.
Marsh, however, kept fighting at the other end and made his third ODI fifty and showed there was no ghost on the pitch and a little determination and patience was all that required. He, meanwhile, ran out of partners and was the last man to be dismissed.
The total proved tricky for South Africa to chase and Australian bowlers did give a number of scary moments to them. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts and finished with a fifer, while Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson also picked one wicket each.
Despite dismissing the Proteas top-order cheaply, the Aussies failed to breach the AB de Villiers’ defences. De Villiers slowly rebuilt the innings but couldn’t finish the job for his side and also missed out on a half-century.
David Miller, meanwhile, patiently brought South Africa home, with Steyn finishing the innings was a handsome lofted drive for a four. The series is now locked at one game apiece.
“Little angry with myself for getting out,” de Villiers said. “Those totals are always tricky to chase. I like to be positive when I come into situations. I was confident in the boys. I was not happy that I let them down. I love to finish games.”
“Felt the guys were calm to start with and recognised the key moments,” he added. “Very happy for Morne Morkel. Behardien really played his role today.”
