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Boje, Pollock bowl SA to emphatic win in final
CAPE TOWN: South Africa ended their luckless one-day series on a winning note as they managed to defeat Australia by 65 runs here at Newlands, Cape Town in the seventh One-day International match of the seven-match series.
For the hosts, Nicky Boje grabbed 5/21 and skipper Shaun Pollock finished with figures of 3/28. They managed to defend the total set by their batsmen earlier in the day after rain reduced the match to 39 overs. The South African batsmen scored 249 runs in 39 overs mainly because of heroics from Graeme Smith and Jonty Rhodes who batted well in front of their home crowd and in a match which was first reduced to 43 and later to 39 overs, managed to score runs at will.
The hosts opened with Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith who added 61 runs for the first wicket in 10.5 overs. Gibbs, who has not had a good series as a batsman, was run out when in Andy Bichel's first over - the eleventh of the innings - he failed to beat a throw from the bowler, after scoring 27 runs off 28 balls. Smith, who was earlier in the innings dropped by Ricky Ponting off Brett Lee, scored 73 runs off 78 balls and continued his brilliant form with the bat. He added 71 runs for the second wicket partnership with pinch-hitter Nicky Boje who after crossing 1000 runs in limited overs was finally caught behind off Watson for 49 and missed his half-century for the second time in the series.
After his departure, the hosts lost two more wickets of Jacques Kallis (18 off 28 balls) and Neil McKenzie (0 off 1 ball). Shane Warne was the successful bowler on both occasions but his success was short-lived as he was hit for 14 runs off his last over giving him figures off 2/52. Jonty Rhodes continued his excellent form with the bat and stood there till the end. He was unbeaten on 39 off 24 balls and it was his neglected partner Boeta Dippenaar who helped South Africa reach 249 with two boundaries off the only two balls he faced. Dippenaar was sent in to bat at number nine behind McKenzie, Mark Boucher (18) and captain Shaun Pollock (8) and had he been sent after Boje's dismissal, the hosts would have had a huge total to defend. For Australia, McGrath was the other bowler after Warne to grab two wickets for 43 runs as the rest of the bowlers went for a lot of runs.
Chasing a revised target of 251 runs in 39 overs, the tourists lost wickets at regular intervals and never once looked comfortable in abnormal weather conditions. Pollock dismissed both the left-handed openers Adam Gilchrist and Jimmy Maher on successive deliveries while came back to remove pinch-hitter Shane Watson who was adjudged leg-before in the 11th over.
Nicky Boje, who had earlier in the day missed a half-century by one run, managed to bowl the Proteas to a convincing win. He took the last five wickets to fall including that of Michael Bevan who top-scored with 55 runs. No other Australian batsmen managed to stay at the wicket and score runs freely. The ninth wicket pair of Andy Bichel and Brett Lee held the wicket-falling proceeding with a 47-run partnership but after the loss of the latter for 28, the tourist's will to fight disappeared and they were bowled out for 185 runs in 32.3 overs.
Nicky Boje was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance while the Man of the Series award went to Australian skipper Ricky Ponting who batted and captained his side brilliantly.
April 09, 2002 - 2042 GMT
SA on top after Pollock's triple strike
CAPE TOWN: South African skipper Shaun Pollock took three wickets in his first six overs to reduce Australia to 112 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs here at Newlands, Cape Town in the seventh One-day International match of the seven-match series.
Chasing a revised target of 251 runs in 39 overs, the tourists were off to a flying start with Adam Gilchrist and Jimmy Maher collecting 15 runs off the first couple of overs. But the match turned in favour of the hosts when skipper Pollock dismissed both the left-handers on successive deliveries.
First to go for the tourists was Maher who skied a Pollock-delivery which landed in the safe hands of Neil McKenzie. He scored 8 runs off 10 balls and on the very next ball, Kallis caught Gilchrist (7 runs off 8 balls) off Pollock to reduce the hosts to 16/2 in 3 overs. Pollock, who was at that time on hat-trick, missed one but came back to removed pinch-hitter Shane Watson who was adjudged leg-before in the 11th over after scoring 16 runs off 26 balls. Damien Martyn's 19-ball cameo knock, which saw him score 24 runs, came to an end when he holed a Kallis-delivery to Graeme Smith in the deep in the 17th over while Ponting's cheap dismissal to Roger Telemachus in the next over reduced the Aussies to 98/5.
After 20 overs, Australia have scored 112 runs for the loss of five wickets. Michael Bevan (45 not out off 48 balls) is the tourists' only hope as only he can turn the match back in their favour. For South Africa, Ponting has taken 3/28 in his 6 overs while Kallis and Roger Telemachus have taken a wicket each. The Aussies still require 139 more runs at an asking rate of 7.32 runs per over to win the match in the remaining 19 overs while the hosts would have to restrict them from doing so if they wish to earn a face-saving win in front of their home crowd.
April 09, 2002 - 1835 GMT
SA set competitive total at Newlands
CAPE TOWN: South African batsmen Graeme Smith and Jonty Rhodes scored runs at will in front of their home crowd and helped their side post 249 runs for the loss of seven wickets against Australia here at Newlands, Cape Town in the seventh One-day International match of the seven-match series.
The match, which was earlier reduced to 43 overs per side because of rain, was further reduced to 39 overs as play was held up for 20 minutes after just 28 balls. The hosts opened with Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith who added 61 runs for the first wicket in 10.5 overs. Gibbs, who has not had a good series as a batsman, was run out when in Andy Bichel's first over - the eleventh of the innings - he failed to beat a throw from the bowler, after scoring 27 runs off 28 balls. Smith, who was earlier in the innings dropped by Ricky Ponting off Brett Lee, scored 73 runs off 78 balls and continued his brilliant form with the bat. He added 71 runs for the second wicket partnership with pinch-hitter Nicky Boje who after crossing 1000 runs in limited overs was finally caught behind off Watson for 49 and missed his half-century for the second time in the series.
After his departure, the hosts lost two more wickets of Jacques Kallis (18 off 28 balls) and Neil McKenzie (0 off 1 ball). Shane Warne was the successful bowler on both occasions but his success was short-lived as he was hit for 14 runs off his last over giving him figures off 2/52. Jonty Rhodes continued his excellent form with the bat and stood there till the end. He was unbeaten on 39 off 24 balls and it was his neglected partner Boeta Dippenaar who helped South Africa reach 249 with two boundaries off the only two balls he faced. Dippenaar was sent in to bat at number nine behind McKenzie, Mark Boucher (18) and captain Shaun Pollock (8) and had he been sent after Boje's dismissal, the hosts would have had a huge total to defend. For Australia, McGrath was the other Australian bowler after Warne to grab two wickets for 43 runs as the rest of the bowlers went for a lot of runs.
Although the tourists managed to reach the highest total batting second in the last match at Port Elizabeth, they might find it hard to score runs today as not only is the outfield slow, but the morale of the South African bowlers is high after spirited performance from their batsmen. Australia require 250 runs at an asking rate of 6.41 runs per over to win the match and take the series 6-0 while the hosts would have to restrict them from doing so if they wish to earn a face-saving win in front of their home crowd.
April 09, 2002 - 1650 GMT
SA off to flying start in final
CAPE TOWN: South Africa
were off to a flying start against Australia here
at Newlands, Cape Town in the seventh One-day
International match of the seven-match series
after the match was shortened because of rain
interruptions.
The match, which was earlier reduced to 43 overs
per side because of rain, was further reduced to
39 overs. At the conclusion of the 20th over, the
hosts had scored 128 runs for the loss of one
wicket. Herschelle Gibbs, who has not had a good
series as a batsman, was run out when in Andy
Bichel's first over - the eleventh of the innings
- he was run out by a throw from the bowler, after
scoring 27 runs off 28 balls. He added 63 runs for
the first wicket in 10.5 overs with Graeme Smith
who continued his brilliant form with the bat and
scored his second consecutive fifty for South
Africa. Smith, who was earlier in the innings
dropped by Ricky Ponting off Brett Lee, scored 70
not out off 69 balls and his innings contained 8
fours. He added 65 runs for the unbeaten second
wicket partnership with pinch-hitter Nicky Boje
who had scored 24 runs off 23 balls.
April 09, 2002 - 1525 GMT
Rain disturbs play again after brief start
CAPE TOWN: Only 19 minutes of play was possible here at Newlands, Cape Town in the seventh One-day International match of the seven-match series after Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to field against South Africa.
Due to the late start the match was reduced to 43 overs per side but it now seems that either it would be shortened further or the Duckworth and Lewis method would be applied later on. Before rain brought a halt to the proceedings, the hosts had scored 24 runs in 4.4 overs for no loss. Herschelle Gibbs had scored 12 runs off 15 balls while Graeme Smith faced 13 balls for his nine runs.
April 09, 2002 - 1450 GMT
Ponting elects to bowl first after winning toss in rain-delayed encounter
CAPE TOWN: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa in the seventh One-day International match of the seven-match series after rain delayed start of play here at Newlands, Cape Town.
Australia, who have won five of the six matches played before the final, have included Andrew Bichel, Jimmy Maher and Brett Lee in place of Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden and Darren Lehmann while the hosts, who have not been able to win a match in the series, have recalled Boeta Dippenaar and Nantie Hayward at the expense of Makhaya Ntini and John Kent.
Due to the late start the match has been reduced to 43 overs per side and in case rain disturbs play, the Ducksworth and Lewis method might come into play.
Teams:
South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Graeme Smith, Roger Telemachus, Nantie Hayward.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Jimmy Maher, Michael Bevan, Shane Warne, Damien Martyn, Ian Harvey, Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath.
April 09, 2002 - 1335 GMT
Rain delays start of play at Newlands
CAPE TOWN: Persistent rain has delayed the start of the seventh One-day International match of the seven-match series between Australia and South Africa here at Newlands Cape Town.
Australia have won five of the six matches played before the final while one match ended in a tie.
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