Aussies kept in check

2006-03-05 13:54

Port Elizabeth - Some disciplined bowling and sharp fielding by South Africa kept Australia in check in the third Standard Bank one-day international at St George's Park on Sunday.

Graeme Smith won the toss and sent Australia in to bat. Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich got off to a fairly slow start, putting on 36 runs together before danger man Gilchrist was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Shaun Pollock for 25.

The Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, back in the team after sitting out the first two matches with an abdominal strain, joined Katich at the crease. They shared a second wicket partnership of 63, which was ended by a brilliant run out by AB de Villiers, with a direct throw at the stumps. Katich fell just one run short of his ninth half century, having hit four fours and a six.

Ponting and Damien Martyn put on 74 runs off 102 balls, during which time they both reached milestones - Ponting scoring his 9 000th run in limited overs cricket, and Martyn his 5 000th. They were just beginning the last 10-over slog when Ponting skied a drive off Pollock, which was taken by Robin Peterson, sending Ponting back with his score on 61. It was his 52nd one-day half century, and included five boundaries.

Martyn and Michael Clarke made 41 off 30 balls, but this partnership ended just after Martyn reached his 34th half century, when he was caught by Roger Telemachus off Makhaya Ntini for 51.

Pollock was the most successful bowler, with two wickets for 45 runs. Andrew Hall and Peterson were the most economical, both conceding 39 - Hall off nine overs, and Peterson off 10. Telemachus, back in the side for Andre Nel, proved expensive, conceding 59 runs off eight overs and the hero of Friday's record victory, Ntini, was also fairly expensive, with one for 56 off nine overs.

- SAPA