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Maher ties the match for SA
POTCHEFSTROOM: Jimmy Maher struck a 32-ball 44 to snatch a tie from the jaws of defeat in the third One-day International match of the seven-match series between Australia and South Africa here at Potchefstroom.
Chasing 260 runs to win the match, the tourists finished at 259 for the loss of nine wickets in their 50 overs. Matthew Hayden's eighth half-century in one dayers took them close to a win but with Makhaya Ntini taking four wickets for 33 runs at the very end, the match tilted from one side to another.
Australia, who once again lost Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting cheaply, were helped a lot by brilliant batting from Matthew Hayden (78 runs off 103 balls) and Damien Martyn (35 runs off 58 balls) which brought the Aussies with a reach of victory. The two added 73 runs for the third wicket after the loss of vice captain and captain before Shaun Pollock brought an end to their partnership by an excellent piece of fielding which found Martyn short of his ground in the 28th over.
Ntini then struck successive blows which reduced Australia from 112/3 to 223/9 but with Jimmy Maher and Nathan Hauritz batting sensibly, the match retained its suspense till the last over in which eleven runs were required. Jacques Kallis bowled the final over which saw Hauritz and Maher score 10 runs - one short of victory. The match was the third tie between the two teams and brought back the memories of the 1999 World Cup semi-final in England, which made Australia qualify for the final.
Earlier, Jonty Rhodes and Jacques Kallis cracked half centuries as South Africa posted the highest score the series. Brett Lee who finished with figures of 4/45 reduced the hosts, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, to 27/2. After the loss of both the openers cheaply, Kallis (71) and Neil McKenzie (37), played sensibly and apart from adding 78 runs for the third wicket, took the score from 27 to 105. Kallis brought up his 35th fifty in limited overs internationals off 78 balls and his knock included four fours and a six. He got able support from Rhodes who destroyed the tourists' bowling with spirited batting performance and after scoring 83 runs off 74 balls, with the help of six fours and one six, finally fell to Brett Lee in the last over of the innings.
Jimmy Maher was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant batting. The two teams will now meet at Bloemfontein on Saturday.
March 27, 2002 - 1505 GMT
Hayden paves the way for Aussie win
POTCHEFSTROOM: Matthew Hayden struck his eighth half-century in one-day games as Australia moved closer to their third win against South Africa here at Potchefstroom in the third One-day International match of the seven-match series.
Chasing 260 runs to win the match, the tourists lost Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting quickly but brilliant batting from Hayden and Damien Martyn (35 runs off 58 balls) saw the Aussies move close to victory. The two added 73 runs for the third wicket before Shaun Pollock brought an end to their partnership by an excellent piece of fielding which found Martyn short of his ground in the 28th over. Lehmann replaced Martyn and continued to help Australia earn a win which would enable them a lead of 3-0 with four matches still to be played.
At the conclusion of 36th over, Australia had scored 172 runs for the loss of three wickets. Matthew Hayden (73 not out off 100 balls) and Darren Lehmann (32 not out off 31 balls) were batting well for Australia who now require 88 more runs to win the match in the remaining 14 overs at an asking rate of 6.29 runs per over. South Africa, on the other hand, need seven more wickets to stop Australia from winning the match and narrow the margin to 2-1.
March 27, 2002 - 1335 GMT
Australia lose important wickets in crucial tie
POTCHEFSTROOM: Australia lost two important wickets early in their innings against South Africa here at Potchefstroom in the third One-day International of the seven-match series after the hosts set them 260 runs to win the match.
The tourists lost Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting quickly as both the batsmen, who have not been able to continue their Test form in one-dayers, failed for the third time in as many matches. First to go was vice captain Gilchrist who after scoring 16 runs off 24 balls was caught by Boucher off Ntini in the seventh over of the innings while fourteen balls and six runs later, skipper Ricky Ponting was found short of his crease and was sent back to the pavilion for 3 runs.
At the conclusion of 16th over, Australia had scored 55 runs for the loss of two wickets. Matthew Hayden (20 not out off 43 balls) and Damien Martyn (10 not out off 22 balls) were batting for the tourists who now require 205 more runs to win the match in the remaining 34 overs of the innings at an asking rate of 6.03 runs per over. On the other hand, South Africa need eight more wickets to win the match and narrow the margin to 2-1.
March 27, 2002 - 1300 GMT
Kallis, Rhodes help SA amass 259
POTCHEFSTROOM: Jonty Rhodes and Jacques Kallis cracked half centuries as South Africa posted the highest score the series against Australia here at Potchefstroom in the third One-day International of the seven-match series.
The hosts, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, were reduced to 27/2 by Brett Lee who finished with figures of 4/45. After the loss of both the openers cheaply, Kallis (71) and Neil McKenzie (37), played sensibly and apart from adding 78 runs for the third wicket, took the score from 27 to 105. Kallis brought up his 35th fifty in limited overs internationals off 78 balls and his knock included four fours and a six. He lost McKenzie when the batsman was caught at extra cover by Damien Martyn off Darren Lehmann while trying to increase the scoring.
After the loss of McKenzie, Kallis, who was finally dismissed in the 39th over, found an able partner in Jonty Rhodes with whom he added 75 runs for the fourth wicket. Rhodes continued to destroy the tourists' bowling with spirited batting performance and after scoring 83 runs off 74 balls, with the help of six fours and one six, he finally fell to Brett Lee in the last over of the match which gave Brett Lee his fourth wicket of the innings. Rhodes got minor support from his partners as only the in-form Klusener (20 off 24 balls) and Andrew Hall (18 runs off 12 balls) managed to score quickly.
Australia now require 260 runs to win the match in 50 overs and take a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series while the hosts would be looking forward to narrow the margin to 2-1 by defeating Australia.
March 27, 2002 - 1105 GMT
Kallis strikes form as SA fightback
POTCHEFSTROOM: Jacques Kallis managed to score a timely half century against Australia here at Potchefstroom in the third One-day International of the seven-match series as South Africa, after being reduced to 27/2 by Brett
Lee, managed to stage a comeback.
Along with Neil McKenzie (37), the all-rounder added 78 runs for the third wicket and took the score from 27 to 105. Kallis brought up his fifty off 78 balls and his knock included four fours and a six. He lost McKenzie when the batsman was caught at extra cover by Damien Martyn off Darren Lehmann while trying to increase the scoring.
At the conclusion of 36 overs, South Africa had scored 164 runs for the loss of three wickets. Kallis was still batting on 66 not out while Jonty Rhodes was partnering him with 40 not out which came off just 36 deliveries.
March 27, 2002 - 1050 GMT
SA lose openers early
in crucial tie
POTCHEFSTROOM: Australia once again removed the South African openers early after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first here at Potchefstroom in the third One-day International of the seven-match series.
Brett Lee, a last minute inclusion to the side in place of Glenn McGrath, dismissed opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and promoted opener Boeta Dippenaar by the eighth over leaving the hosts on 27/2.
Dippenaar (7), asked to open the innings in the absence of out-of-form Gary Kirsten, was first to go as he played a Brett Lee-delivery to Ricky Ponting at second slip in the fourth over while Herschelle Gibbs followed him four overs later. Gibbs made 10 runs and his innings ended when he edged Lee to Jimmy Maher at first slip.
At the conclusion of the first 15 overs, South Africa had scored 63 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Jacques Kallis was batting on 26 not out while Neil McKenzie had scored 17 runs.
March 27, 2002 - 0810 GMT
Pollock decides to bat first after winnings toss
POTCHEFSTROOM: South African skipper Shaun Pollock won the toss and elected to bat first here at Potchefstroom against Australia in the third One-day International of the seven-match series.
The hosts, who are trailing by 2-0, have recalled batsmen Neil McKenzie and Andrew Hall for the out-of-form Gary Kirsten and Roger Telemachus. It seems that Boeta Dippenaar will move up to open the innings with Herschelle Gibbs.
Australia are still without Michael Bevan and Shane Warne while have made just one change in their side with Brett Lee replacing Glenn McGrath, who was a late withdrawal from the team with a back strain.
South Africa:
Shaun Pollock (capt), Mark Boucher (wicketkeeper), Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Lance
Klusener, Andrew Hall, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini
Australia:
Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), Matthew Hayden, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehman, Shane Watson, Andrew
Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee.
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