The wash-up
History will record this game as a narrow win to South Africa but they really gave Australia a touch-up at various points of the contest.
The home side was almost ludicrously irresponsible with the bat but even if they hadn’t offered up many of their wickets in wasteful fashion, Morne Morkel still bowled wonderfully well on a lively Waca surface. The lanky Protea extracted everything he could from the pitch and bowled a perfect “Waca line” throughout, finishing with 5-21 from 8 bouncy, rib-probing overs.
The only Australian batsman who can hold his head high was one of its least experienced, Mitch Marsh. His patient 67 spared his teammates even worse blushes. Again AB de Villiers arrived at the crease too late for the liking of many of us but while he was here, his side never looked like losing. His 48 and Rilee Rossouw’s 30 were highlights of a stuttering South African chase, one that always promised to be so given the pitch conditions and the mental hurdle such small totals often present.
With 5-31 from 9.4 overs, Josh Hazlewood probably bowled himself into Test selection discussions, though you’d have to apply a bit of a caveat given the assistance the pitch gave him. Mitchell Johnson was occasionally scary but also too expensive for the match situation.
So that leaves us tied up at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s clash at Manuka, one we’ll also be covering via the OBO. Make sure you join us then and thanks for your company today.
Only the formalities remain.
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