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Following Australia’s historic Ashes defeat on Sunday, Australian Captain Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the up coming Twenty20 matches in England and Scotland starting Aug 28th. Other casualties include out of form batsmen Mike Hussey and seam bowler Peter Siddle.
Despite publicly backing Ricky and his teams’ performance throughout the Ashes series it seems that the Australian Selection Panel’s actions are somewhat different from their words – Australia lost to England therefore changes need to be made.
National Selector Andrew Hilditch commented that the Twenty20 squad was picked keeping in mind the looming World Twenty20 series in the West Indies in May.
Hilditch goes on to say that the omission of Ricky Ponting will provide a great opportunity for Vice Captain Michael Clarke to captain in the two Twenty20 matches and one ODI against Scotland.
“The selection panel is using the two matches against England to look at different make-ups to the squad and include players who we consider Twenty20 specialists in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 next year," he said.
Gary Bowen
Day 3
Lord’s
18/7/09
By Andrew Starkie
Overnight details:
England 425
Strauss 161
Hilfenhaus 4/103
Australia 8/156
Hussey 51
Anderson 4/26
First session:
Play started under light clouds with Australia needing 70 runs to avoid the follow-on.
Broad opened with a handful of bouncers. Hauritz and Sidds ignored them or edged and sliced boundaries through the fortunately empty third man area. Broad looks like a public school toff, or Julian from the Famous Five (‘Come on Dick, let’s have a yummy picnic in the castle!’).
Onions, who would look at home playing the spoons in an Irish pub, replaced Anderson after forty minutes and was immediately driven through point for four by Hauritz. Two balls later he slashed outside off and was caught smartly by Collingwood at third slip. Hauritz was out for 24 and Australia was 9/169.
Australia still needed 30 to avoid the follow-on when Hilfenhaus walked to the crease. The responsibility lay with Sidds who continued to cut and hook Broad whose bottom lip started to quiver. Onions pitched up to Sidds who edged to Strauss at first slip. Sidds’ 35 is his highest Test score. Australia were all out for 215, a deficit of 210.
Perhaps to rest Freddy who didn’t bowl this morning, or maybe because he liked the look of the flattening pitch, Strauss didn’t enforce the follow-on. He and Cook strode back out under a warm sun. Strauss immediately pulled Hilfy for four and England looked set for a big day at the crease.
Punter’s patience with Johnson lasted three overs. He was cut and pulled everywhere and after Strauss swatted a full toss off his pads for another four, Sidds replaced him.
Things didn’t improve. Strauss and Cook plundered 50 from their first ten overs. England were 0/57 at Lunch and the overall lead, 267.
Tiredness crept in during the break. I had to keep busy, so I put on a load of dirty washing, cleaned the kitchen and gulped down some strong coffee.
Second session:
I settled in for the start of the middle session expecting to witness an English run feast. When Strauss flicked Sidds off his pads for four, dread filled me. Here we go, I thought.
Suddenly, funny things started happening. Hauritz came on - sore finger and all - and trapped Cook plum in front with his first ball. In his next over, he tossed one up to Strauss who edged to Clarke. Both batsmen made 32. Pietersen opened his scoring by waltzing down the pitch and lifting the off-spinner over mid-wicket.
Hilfenhaus replaced Hauritz to have a go at Pietersen who survived an LBW appeal and runout chance – all in the same ball. Hilfy twice whistled his outswinger past Pietersen’s bat. An uncontrolled off-drive caught his inside edge and almost the off-stump.
Ponting, at second slip, dropped a simple chance off Bopara. Punter looked at the ground like someone who had farted loudly in church. Sidds crouched mid-pitch with his head in his hands.
Normalcy returned when Haddin gave away four more byes.
The hour after drinks saw Australia produce their best spell of bowling for the Test. Hilfenhaus dominated Pietersen with his outswingers and even Johnson found a better line. Our fielding was sharp and pressure was maintained on the English.
England managed only fifteen runs in a ten over period.
England were edging towards Tea when Bopara pulled Johnson to mid-on and Hauritz claimed a tumbling catch. Rudi Koertzen referred to his colleague in the grandstand and Bopara was given the benefit of the doubt.
England went to Tea at 2/130 with Bopara on 19 and Pietersen 28. It had been Australia’s session, yet England’s overall lead was 340 and growing.
Third session:
Punter employed go-slow tactics after Tea. He found it necessary to speak to his bowlers – and anyone else for that matter – whenever possible in an attempt to hinder England’s momentum.
The plan worked. Bopara and turned Hauritz off his thigh pad and into Katich’s hands at short leg. He never looked comfortable and made 27 from 93 balls. Pietersen edged Sidds to Haddin on 44 from 101. England had strolled to 4/174.
Punter’s tactics worked on me as well. He obviously didn’t have sympathy for sleep deprived cricket watchers at home. The tough grind set in and I was doing it tough with about 30 overs left in the day’s play (and it was about 2am Reservoir time). I had to step outside into the cold night air to wake up.
Prior emerged with instructions and he and Collingwood lifted the scoring rate. Hauritz came in for punishment as drives and cheeky sweeps found the boundary. The 50 partnership came up in 49 balls. Prior took just 37 balls to score his half-century and looked destined for a brilliant century until, on 61, North ran him out with a direct hit from the outfield. England were 5/260.
Freddy came out to huge applause and Punter discussed his dinner plans with Johnson. I folded towels and prayed for rain. Collingwood carried on and brought up his 50 from 72 balls and the lead was 500. Party time
Things became embarrassing when Freddy got going. The field retreated and runs were easy. Our quicks were plastered everywhere. Dark clouds drew in and the umpires discussed the light. Rain stopped play as Collingwood fell for 54.
No further play was possible and the day closed with England 6/311 and with an overall lead of 521. As I fall into deliriously bed, I’m struck by the realization that only rain can save Australia’s beloved Lord’s record.
Close of play details:
England 425 and 6/311
Prior 61
Flintoff 30*
Broad 0*
Hauritz 3/80
Australia 215
Hussey 51
Anderson 4/55
Well. It's 48 overs through the highly anticipated 1st 2009 Ashes test! So far not much to write about some people think. But I believe their is a bucket load to write about. Mostly pre-match stuff e.g Hiflenhaus and Haurtiz selection over Stuart Clark. Are the selectors serious?!?! Okay credit where it is due, Hilfenhaus hasn't bowled too badly up until now, taking the pretty valuable wicket of Cook. (with immense assistance from Hussey at gully!) But he is not a test match bowler! In my opinion it's a joke he is playing, sorry Ben, but Stuart Clark should easily pull rank over an amature such as Hilfenhaus. Clark has far more experience and far more test attributes to offer as opposed to Hilfenhaus. But! Hauritz is horrible. They already have part-time spin bowlers, Clarke, North, Katich, I don't think they need Haurtiz. Something is appealing Ponting and the selectors that I obviously can't see. So with the whinging out of the way, back to the cricket! I feel England has a superior side, both experience and talent wise, but Australia has that knack to never sod off. Kevin Pietersen has the ability to take the game away from you in a heartbeat (speak of the devil just brought up his half century) and I feel he will do that. One of the Australian bowlers needs to step up and show the way and Brett Lee would of been perfect for that, had he not bruised a leg hair. Sorry side strain. Poor bugger! Anyway, cmon the Poms and cmon K.P!! BJ.
T 20 format of cricket has emerged as a global phenomenon .Right from its start it has gained momentum and success by attracting volumes of spectators around the world.
Not only does it contracts the time span of viewing it but the frequency of the cricket moments has risen.The number of sixes,fours,slogging,hard hitting has become the norm for the purpose.People enjoy the tense speedy nature of this format.
Its invention has sparked the debate of inclusion of cricket as a game in olympics too.
One couldnot turn his ear and eyes away onces the match begins.This is the beauty of the T20 format.
However this format is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that timing of shots,good techniques and grace of gentlemen cricket to be lost from the game forever.
Now one cannot expect to see stevewaughs timed captains knock.One cant expect to see sir ianbotham bowling for days to make a match out of it.
Felt held elderly citizens statued on the spectators seats ,giving a decent thump of clap on once a while good looking shot will become a rare treat with this format.
The entertainment of T20 has taken away the precision and accuracy from the true nature of game of cricket.
Australia rode an unbeaten century from captain Michael Clarke and a five-wicket haul from Doug Bollinger to hand Pakistan an eight-wicket defeat and secure an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match one-day series.
Clarke scored a fluent 100 off 122 deliveries while Shane Watson supported him with 85 not out as the two helped Australia easily reach its measly target of 198 set by Pakistan.
Doug Bollinger had wrecked Pakistan's line-up with an accurate spell which earned him the brilliant figures of 5-35 in only his second one-dayer, but Shoaib Akhtar threatened to better that effort when he sent back both openers cheaply, reducing Australia to 2-3.
But Clarke and Watson weathered the storm and lifted Australia out of a slump with an unbroken third-wicket stand worth 197 as Australia finished at 2-200 in 44.2 overs.
Shoaib dismissed Brad Haddin for a golden duck and ended debutant Marcus North's innings early by trapping him in front for one.
Shoaib should have had the wicket of Watson immediately thereafter, but his appeal for leg before was turned down by umpire Aleem Dar.
Sohail Tanvir, Akhtar's new-ball partner, kept the pressure on with a maiden first up, but Clarke and Watson slowly wrested control.
Younus Khan shuffled his bowlers around and even brought on Shahid Afridi inside the powerplay in an effort to break the partnership, but the Australian duo remained watchful and resolute.
Afridi's match ended at the start of the 36th over when he came on to bowl and pulled up with a strained calf muscle even before he could deliver. He hobbled off the field, with three overs of his quota remaining.
Clarke brought up his fourth one-day century with a cracking cover drive off Shoaib, while Watson finished off the chase by sweeping Saeed Ajmal for a boundary.
Earlier Afridi made a run-a-ball 40 and opener Ahmed Shehzad top scored with a patient 43, but Pakistan's innings stuttered and stumbled and eventually ended in 48.4 overs.
Bollinger, who was handed the new ball, secured his first one-day international wicket when he dismissed the dangerous Salman Butt (two) off just the third delivery of the innings.
Then Younus, who got off the mark with an inside-edged boundary that narrowly missed leg stump, made seven before he was accounted for by Nathan Bracken, the left-arm seamer pegging back leg stump via an inside edge.
Bracken should have had the wicket of Misbah-ul-Haq with his next ball, the Pakistan vice-captain edging to Haddin, but umpire Dar ruled not out.
Misbah struggled against the spinners and looked scratchy right through, but he rode his luck and added 68 for the third wicket with Shehzad.
Misbah's laboured innings finally ended on 34 when he attempted to sweep Clarke, missed the ball completely and was trapped plumb in front.
Pakistan then lost wickets in quick succession as Shehzad holed out to long-on.
Shoaib Malik (27), who had shown positive intent, became Bollinger's second victim when he was trapped in front by the left-arm quick and Kamran Akmal managed just one run before he was bowled by Stuart Clark.
Afridi, in typically brisk fashion, knocked the bowlers around, all the while getting Pakistan closer to the 200-run mark.
He had hammered Clark for a couple boundaries in the seamer's sixth over, but mistimed a pull while attempting to force the pace in the batting powerplay and presented Bollinger with his third wicket.
Yasir Arafat chipped in with a useful, unbeaten 23, but Bollinger ran through the tail, claiming the wickets of Shoaib and Saeed Ajmal in his eighth over as Pakistan's innings came to an end.
The fifth match of the series is on Sunday.
Australia took a 2-1 lead in the five-match one-day series after beating Pakistan by 27 runs in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening.
Pakistan had restricted Australia to 7-198 from its 50 overs but could only manage 171 all out in reply.
Skipper Michael Clarke was again Australia's hero as he made a battling 63 before taking 3-15 with the ball.
A ragged spell from left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir - who was picked at the expense of Shoaib Akhtar - helped Australia openers Brad Haddin and James Hopes make a cracking start in good batting conditions.
Haddin struck Tanvir for consecutive blows in his first over, the left-arm seamer conceding 14 runs in his first two overs.
Umar Gul, who had handled the new ball, was also a touch expensive to begin with, helping Australia flourish.
But Pakistan hit back with skipper Younus Khan throwing down the stumps at the non-striker's end with a direct throw from mid-off catching Hopes (15) just short of his crease while the batsman attempted a single.
Gul then sent back Shane Watson for a second-ball duck immediately after to have Australia reeling at 2-28.
Clarke and Haddin steadied the ship somewhat but Australia lost its way again with the advent of the spinners.
Shahid Afridi was pressed into action at the start of the 14th over and Australia's scoring rate dropped dramatically.
But it was Shoaib Malik who separated the pair, bowling Haddin (26) as the wicketkeeper-batsman moved too far across while attempting to tuck one down to third man.
Andrew Symonds, who had survived a good shout for leg before on only the second ball he faced, was eventually snared by Afridi for only six and Clarke fell while attempting to force the pace while the batting powerplay was in progress.
Clarke had put on 54 for the fifth wicket with Callum Ferguson, who carried on briefly after his skipper's departure, while Nathan Hauritz got Australia close to the 200-run mark with an unbeaten 19 off only 18 deliveries.
Gul finished the top wicket-taker with 3-38 from eight.
Pakistan made a good start to its reply, with Salman Butt and Ahmed Shehzad putting on 95 for the first wicket and seemingly putting their side on course for victory.
But Butt's wicket, two short of a half-century, proved the turning point, the opener edging Hauritz to first slip.
Khan went for a duck the next ball before Misbah-ul-Haq became Clarke's first victim.
The same bowler then snared Shehzad for 40 while Afridi (6), Kamran Akmal (8), Yasir Arafat (3) and Tanvir (11) all went cheaply.
Malik chipped in with a useful 30 but, when he was run out, the game was up, and Gul quickly became the last man out with nearly three overs left.
Andrew Symonds rewarded the faith of the Australian selectors as he led his side to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international in Dubai.
His two wickets for 12 runs helped finish off the Pakistan tail as it made 207, and his brisk half-century carried Australia almost all the way in reaching its target with 29 balls to spare.
After Brad Haddin went for eight, Shane Watson's 30 and 48 from James Hopes had helped Australia build a solid platform, but Pakistan dismissed the pair within the space of three balls to leave the tourists in a more nervous position at 3-93 when Symonds strode to the crease.
He took a while to play himself in, but after the offer of a free hit against Shoaib Malik was smashed for his first four in the 29th over, Symonds began to express himself a little more and hit Saeed Ajmal for six in the next over.
By the time he was bowled by Shahid Afridi for 58 off 62 balls, the damage had been done with Australia well ahead of the run rate and only 25 runs from its target.
Michael Clarke's unbeaten 39 and 10 from Callum Ferguson saw it home.
Earlier, Pakistan had scratched its way to a competitive total mainly thanks to opener Salman Butt and his laborious 57.
Shahid Afridi slammed 41 off 40 deliveries, but his dismissal while the batting powerplay was in progress left Pakistan's tail exposed in the final overs.
Shoaib Akhtar, however, threw his bat around and landed some lusty blows en route to 25 off 14 deliveries as Pakistan breached the 200-run mark.
That target looked unlikely at the start when debutant opener Ahmed Shehzad was run out with five runs on the board.
Shehzad turned a delivery from Nathan Bracken to square leg and set off for a single. Butt at first responded and was almost halfway down the pitch when he turned back while Shehzad continued with the run.
Clarke swooped on the ball and fired in a return to wicketkeeper Haddin, who whipped off the bails at the striking end. Umpire Billy Bowden adjudged Shehzad as the batsman out.
Butt rebuilt the innings in the company of skipper Younus Khan (28), who looked in fine touch. The two added 53 for the second wicket.
Younus, who survived a run-out attempt on one, was out edging the first ball from Ben Laughlin to Haddin.
Nathan Hauritz then claimed three wickets in quick succession as Pakistan wobbled, ending with figures of three for 41, while debutant Doug Bollinger turned in an economical spell conceding 26 in his 10 overs.
Shahid Afridi claimed six victims to pave the way for Pakistan to claim victory by four wickets in its opening one-day international against Australia in Dubai.
The Pakistan all-rounder claimed career-best figures of 6-38 as Australia could only manage 168 in an innings that lasted just 38.5 overs.
The world champions again lost their way in the middle overs, losing 8-27 at one stage as they wilted against Afridi's spin.
It could have been worse for the Australians who relied on a last-wicket stand of 46 runs between James Hopes (48 not out) and Ben Hilfenhaus (four) to give their score some respectability.
Pakistan's reply, while slow going at times, always looked on track with Kamran Akmal hitting 48 at the top of the order before Misbah-ul-Haq anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 from 68 balls.
A near-capacity crowd filled the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium as the venue hosted international cricket for the first time.
The postponed series, which was originally due to be played last year, had been moved from Pakistan to neutral turf because the Australian team harboured security concerns about touring the strife-torn nation.
That meant this series came after its 3-2 series defeat to South Africa, when Australia's middle order had shown weakness against spin.
That again proved to be the case on Wednesday after openers Brad Haddin and Shaun Marsh had got it off to a solid start. They added 41 in nine overs before Marsh, who re-injured the hamstring injury that kept him out of the South Africa series, was run out for 16.
Haddin, who was dropped by Shoaib Akhtar while on 38, although the chance was a difficult one, was joined by Shane Watson and the pair put Australia back on top with a 54-run stand for the second wicket.
Watson played the dominant hand, blasting two fours and a six while racing along at better than a run a ball.
All that ended when Pakistan captain Younus Khan brought his spinners on.
Afridi made the breakthrough in his fifth over, inducing an expansive drive from Haddin (40) which was snapped up by Younus at short cover.
That prompted Australia's stunning collapse with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (two for 19) also getting in on the act.
Ajmal snared stand-in Australia skipper Michael Clarke (four) cheaply, while Afridi picked up the wicket of Watson (40) - bowled while playing down the wrong line - in his next over.
Andrew Symonds (two) offered little on his return to the team after spending nine months on the sidelines.
Callum Ferguson (two), Nathan Bracken (one) and Stuart Clark (two) followed in quick succession as Australia slipped from 2-95 to 9-122.
Hopes revived the innings at the end, but Gul ended it, clean bowling Hilfenhaus.
The early end to Australia's innings meant Pakistan was forced to bat for seven overs before the interval and lost Salman Butt for five when Hilfenhaus trapped him lbw.
Kamran and Younus avoided any further damage before the break to steer Pakistan to 1-25.
Younus (11) fell soon after the re-start when he was frustrated into playing a cross-bat shot off Hopes which he mis-timed to Bracken at mid-off.
Kamran, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over and had closed to within two runs of a deserved half-century when Stuart Clark had him caught behind by Haddin.
Australia showed signs of a fightback when it then had Shoaib Malik (24) caught by Haddin off Hopes shortly after, to leave Pakistan on 4-99.
But Pakistan got the steadying innings it needed from Misbah.
With Afridi adding a quickfire 24, Misbah was content to play a patient a role, eventually guiding his team home with 5.5 overs to spare.
Australia has gained some respectability with a 47-run victory over South Africa in Johannesburg in the fifth one-day international but still lost the series 3-2.
The hosts were set 304 to win after Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke helped Australia to a strong position and despite 82 from Herschelle Gibbs the Proteas crumbled in the latter half of their innings, collapsing from 4-213 to 256 all out with Mitchell Johnson taking 3-58 for the tourists.
Australia struck an important blow before skipper Graeme Smith (20 runs off 15 balls) could get fully into his stride.
The left-hander waved at a wide Nathan Bracken delivery in the eighth over and got a healthy edge which Haddin did well to hold on to high to his left.
That brought veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis to the crease and he immediately set about his task in combination with Gibbs.
The pair were untroubled as they easily kept pace with the required rate in a 104-run stand that was brought to an end by a dubious lbw decision against Gibbs.
The 35-year-old attempted to sweep Nathan Hauritz while on 82 and while the ball rapped his front pad, he had made a stride down the wicket which could have offered some doubt about the decision.
Kallis followed for 64 off 69 balls, caught by Haddin off Bracken, and there was little in the way of resistance from the lower order with only AB de Villiers (15) managing double figures outside the top four batsmen.
Earlier, Smith won the toss and inserted the Australians who were looking to earn back some respectability having already conceded the series 3-1.
The tourists had not won since the opening match, but were soon on the front foot through Haddin (64 off 66) and Clarke (66 off 60) who made full use of the early powerplays to clear the in-field with regularity in their opening 127-run stand.
Both fell in quick succession but skipper Ricky Ponting (40 off 45) and rookie Callum Ferguson (41 off 33) picked up the slack to have the Australians at one point 2-191 after 31 overs and dreaming of a total in excess of 350.
But when both fell - to soft dismissals - all momentum the Australians built was soon lost.
Ponting's dismissal, caught at mid-on as he went in search of back-to-back sixes off the part-time spin of JP Duminy, prompted a collapse of 4-23 in a four-over spell that left Australia on 7-246 and with more than 10 overs still to bat.
Instead of putting their foot on the gas the tourists were restricted to just trying to bat out their overs - a feat they achieved thanks to an unbeaten 57-run partnership between Michael Hussey (49) and Hauritz (24).
Duminy finished with figures of 3-48, while fellow spinner Roelof van der Merwe chipped in with 2-44 as the slow bowlers again restricted Australia, but its bowling attack ensured they kept the series deficit to just one.
Australia skipper Ponting said: "It's a great way for us to finish the tour."
"I'm disappointed with way we've played in the series as a group, but a few of the younger guys have had some impact on the game tonight and hopefully they can take that into the series against Pakistan."
De Villiers was named man of the series after hitting 240 runs in the five-match series and said: "I've had an awesome season but I have to say thanks to my team-mates for playing great cricket."
"I'm pretty relaxed and confident and enjoying my cricket at the moment."
Proteas skipper Smith added: "It's been a terrific summer for South African cricket, both teams deserve a lot of credit for the way the series has been played."
"It's been an interesting summer for me. There have been a lot of highs and some injuries thrown in there but I've battled through."
A fine century from Herschelle Gibbs led South Africa to a comfortable 61-run victory over Australia in the fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth and an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
Dale Steyn was the star with the ball, claiming 4-44, and was given good support by the spinners as the visitors were dismissed for 256 in pursuit of 318.
Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting all made half-centuries, but it was not enough as they fell well short.
The Australians began their chase promisingly with a 129-run opening partnership in just over 20 overs, before the introduction of spin changed the game.
Johan Botha (1-48) was first to strike, ending Haddin's 61-ball 78 when he had the wicketkeeper caught at long-on by Wayne Parnell.
Roelof van der Merwe (3-46) then claimed a triple blow by removing Clarke (50), Callum Ferguson (three) and Michael Hussey (two) to leave the visitors limping at 4-151.
David Hussey and Ponting tried to rescue the situation, putting on 37 before the former also perished, this time caught and bowled by Steyn for 20.
The Australian skipper decided to take the batting powerplay in the 41st over and his decision initially looked like a good one as he plundered Steyn for four boundaries, whilst also raising his half-century in 66 balls.
But he went for one shot too many off the final delivery and was caught by Albie Morkel at mid-wicket for 53.
With Ponting went Australia's last chance of winning and only Mitchell Johnson and James Hopes (31) briefly threatened before South Africa dismissed its opponents in 45.5 overs.
Earlier, Gibbs made 110 and together with AB de Villiers (84) helped the Proteas tear into the visitors' bowling after Ponting had won the toss and elected to field first.
The home team started out slowly, putting on 46 before Graeme Smith (20) was out in the 11th over, chasing a wide ball from Hopes and sending a thick edge behind to Haddin.
Debutant Shane Harwood (2-57) followed that up by accounting for Jacques Kallis, caught at third man by Ferguson for 17, to leave the Proteas at 2-87.
But that was as good as it got for the tourists with Gibbs and De Villiers piling on the misery in a 136-run stand.
The pair reached their half-centuries in 62 and 51 balls respectively, followed by a run-a-ball hundred partnership.
The flamboyant opener brought up his 21st one-day ton in 106 deliveries as South Africa raced past 200 in the 36th over.
Ferguson then dropped De Villiers off Nathan Hauritz diving forward at long-on, but Gibbs perished not long afterwards when Clarke took a simple catch off Nathan Bracken at long-on, ending his 116-ball stay.
Johnson (2-59) removed Morkel (four) and De Villiers in quick succession, but the Australians did not help their chances by twice putting down JP Duminy in the deep.
The South Africa middle-order batsman was eventually out with the final delivery of the innings for 40, but he had already forged a 65-run partnership in just 44 balls with Mark Boucher (29 not out) to help the hosts end on 6-317.
Half-centuries from Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers proved decisive as South Africa eased to a 25-run victory over Australia in the third one-day international in Cape Town on Friday morning.
Kallis and De Villiers shared a 114-run partnership for the third wicket to rescue the home side from early trouble to post 6-289.
The tourists struggled in their chase, with Callum Ferguson (63) and James Hopes (63 not out) only briefly threatening as outstanding fielding and Roelof van der Merwe's 3-37 restricted the visitors to 7-264.
They made a solid enough start in their response, reaching 30 before the first wicket fell - Brad Haddin run out via a direct hit from JP Duminy fielding at cover.
Ricky Ponting was then dropped twice in successive balls by Mark Boucher and Kallis, although the first chance to the South African wicketkeeper seemed to have been taken on the bounce.
Ponting had another close shave when he survived a run-out chance after running halfway down the track, only to be saved by a poor throw from Albie Morkel at mid-wicket.
But he finally perished for 20, caught and bowled after being outfoxed by a flighted delivery from spinner Johan Botha.
Van der Merwe was introduced into the attack and he struck a double blow in his third over, bowling Michael Clarke (35) and trapping Michael Hussey (one) leg before wicket, despite the batsman getting a big inside edge.
Duminy too was an instant hit when he was brought on to bowl, claiming the wicket of David Hussey (20) with his second ball, caught at long-on by Dale Steyn as Australia fell to 5-114.
But Ferguson brought up his fifty in 59 balls and shared a 97-run partnership with Hopes before he was dismissed when caught by de Villiers running back from cover off the bowling of van der Merwe.
Another brilliant piece of fielding by Duminy in the deep saw Mitchell Johnson (nine) run out as Australia fell well short of its target.
Earlier, after winning his first toss of the series and electing to bat, Graeme Smith was sent on his way in the seventh over when he walked down the track to Johnson (4-34) and edged a seaming delivery behind to Haddin.
Herschelle Gibbs was next to go when he holed out to a good catch by Hopes at deep mid-wicket off Nathan Bracken.
But in company with de Villiers, Kallis reached his fifty from 69 balls. And Kallis soon followed him to a half-century, at a marginally quicker tempo.
Brett Geeves grabbed a fortuitous breakthrough when Kallis (70) slammed a short and wide delivery straight to Hopes.
Johnson then removed de Villiers for 80 with a slower delivery that took a leading edge and was snapped up by Nathan Hauritz at mid-off.
After Duminy had smashed Johnson straight to Michael Hussey at cover, Boucher and Morkel plundered late runs.
Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn shared eight wickets to set South Africa on its way to a seven-wicket win over Australia in the second one-day international in Pretoria.
Chasing 132 for victory after the tourists had totalled 131 all out, Graeme Smith (40) led the South African charge as it eased to victory with more than 23 overs to spare.
It was all set up by career-best figures from Parnell (4-26) and Steyn (4-27), who had reduced the Australians to 5-19 before returning at the death to finish off Ricky Ponting's side in 40.2 overs.
It was Australia's third lowest total ever batting first in ODI cricket, having twice before scored 101.
Steyn began the carnage when he tempted Brad Haddin (one) to chase a wide ball in the first over that was played onto his stumps by the wicketkeeper.
After a maiden in his first over, Parnell sent in a seaming delivery to Ponting (eight), whose attempted drive took the outside edge and was snapped up by a diving Mark Boucher.
The paceman then fired an inswinger into the right-handed Michael Clarke, trapping him plumb leg before wicket for five, before a poor shot from David Hussey (one) led to his departure - the tourists' No.4 slashing at the ball outside off-stump and nicking behind to Boucher.
Parnell's late movement then saw Michael Hussey (three) caught on the crease lbw as the Australians slumped at 5-19 in just the eighth over.
James Hopes looked like he settled in quickly, striking two fours early in his innings, but he went for a shot too many attempting to cut Jacques Kallis (1-11) through point and edged to Johan Botha at first slip.
It could have been even worse for the visitors when new man Mitchell Johnson was dropped an over later by Albie Morkel - the all-rounder spurning a tough return chance diving forward.
Johnson recovered though and along with Callum Ferguson raised the half-century stand in 75 balls, before taking the score past 100 in 29th over.
But the partnership ended on 63 when Botha surprised Johnson with a turning delivery that trapped him lbw for 30.
Ferguson brought up his half-century in 82 balls, giving his side a rare moment to cheer, but then fell on the same score.
This time Steyn doing the trick with the South Australian trying to fend a bouncer that took a leading edge and AB de Villiers flew in from point to take a good diving catch inches off the ground.
Parnell then came back into the attack and claimed the wicket of Nathan Bracken (five), caught by JP Duminy running back from cover, before Nathan Hauritz was last man out when he edged Steyn straight to Boucher for 10.
The home side made a poor start to its response, losing Herschelle Gibbs (two), who was caught by Hauritz at cover while driving Johnson (2-47).
Smith and Kallis steadied the ship though, bringing up the half-century partnership in the 11th over, before their stand was ended at 69.
It was the captain who went, chipping a slower ball from Ben Laughlin straight to Clarke at mid-on.
Kallis followed five overs later for 31 when he got a faint nick off Johnson to Haddin, but Duminy (11) and De Villiers (36) helped South Africa square the series 1-1.
Nathan Hauritz claimed four wickets to help Australia post a record 141-run victory over South Africa in the first one-day international in Durban on Saturday morning.
Chasing 287 for victory, the Proteas were all out for 145 in just 33.1 overs as they suffered their worst defeat against Australia in the 50-over game.
Hauritz claimed the key wicket of Graeme Smith for 52 and looked dangerous throughout as the home side was bundled out for the paltry total after the visitors compiled 7-286, which was built around Michael Hussey's unbeaten 83.
Brad Haddin (53) also notched a half-century for the Australians, who recovered from being 4-115 just after the 20th over to post the third-highest total ever in an ODI at Kingsmead.
Like Makhaya Ntini did for the home side, Nathan Bracken struck early for the visitors when he tempted Hashim Amla to play at a wide ball that was tickled behind to Haddin for seven.
It was a bonus wicket for Australia which only appealed half-heartedly, but Amla walked off to leave his side at 1-17.
His opening partner Smith then survived a massive appeal for leg before wicket off Mitchell Johnson (2-24) that looked plumb, before helping his side fight back in a half-century stand with Herschelle Gibbs.
The South Africa No.3 was out not long after though when he was caught superbly by a diving Michael Clarke at point off James Hopes (2-24) for 33.
In the next over, AB de Villiers (two) was sent on his way, trapped lbw by Johnson, albeit through a poor decision from umpire Asoka de Silva after the ball took the bat before hitting the pad.
Smith then reached his fifty in 51 balls when he tapped Hopes for a single, before a double strike from Hauritz (4-29) saw the hosts slump from 3-110 to 5-112.
First the off-break bowler outfoxed the South African skipper with a flighted delivery that was played straight back to the bowler.
Mark Boucher then tried to sweep Hauritz but top-edged to Haddin without troubling the scorers.
Hopes and Johnson then combined to remove JP Duminy for 25 with a short ball from the former pulled via a mis-hit straight to the latter at mid-on.
And Johnson then sent in one of the deliveries of the day to get rid of Johan Botha - the ball was banged in and kicked off the pitch leaving the batsman no option but to try and fend off as it grazed the gloves and lobbed straight to Hussey at gully for eight.
Hauritz then claimed the key wicket of the dangerous Albie Morkel, stumped by Haddin for 14, before Dale Steyn (one) became Ben Laughlin's first ODI victim when he played an early shot and was caught by Hussey at short cover.
Morne Morkel (two) was the last man out caught in the deep by Laughlin off Hauritz with Ntini left not out on two.
Earlier, Michael Hussey was the star after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat.
The scenario looked totally different at the start, after Ntini (1-67) put the tourists on the back foot when he sent in an angled delivery that Clarke tried to fend off and only succeeded in edging straight to Duminy at second slip for one.
Haddin and Ponting then dug in raising a half-century stand in just over 10 overs, before the skipper went for one shot too many and was done for by the Morkel brothers - Morne (2-61) the bowler this time and Albie taking a good catch paddling back from mid-on as the Australia No.3 failed to clear him and was on his way for 37.
Then came the first of two bizarre run-outs within the space of eight deliveries.
In the 21st over, Haddin dug out an Albie Morkel yorker towards de Villiers at backward point and took a step forward, inviting David Hussey to come charging down from the non-striker's end only to be easily run out for 18.
The Australian wicketkeeper then brought up his half-century from only 55 balls, before being himself run out.
This time new man Michael Hussey steered Botha down to Albie Morkel at third man for a single and was not interested in a second run, which did not faze his partner, who found himself way short to leave the visitors at 4-115.
Callum Ferguson then joined Hussey, putting on 50 in 71 balls, before Steyn (2-45) struck off the first delivery with the changed ball in the 35th over to end the partnership.
All-rounder Ferguson (25) was the one to go, slashing a wide delivery straight to Botha at third man.
Another half-century stand followed between Hussey and Hopes, with the former also raising his fifty from 61 balls as the tourists entered the last five overs taking their powerplay at 5-233.
But they were dealt two early blows, first losing Hopes (38), who was out caught by Steyn at short fine leg after walking across his stumps and trying to flick Morne Morkel over the fielder.
Johnson followed an over later when he swung at a widish Steyn delivery and feathered behind to Boucher for one.
But Hauritz (20 not out) offered Michael Hussey good support as they helped Australia set what proved to be a match-winning total.
Johan Botha led his team from the front to guide South Africa to a 17-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 international in Pretoria.
The Proteas captain took 2-16 runs and was given good support from debutants Yusuf Abdullah (1-16) and Roelof van der Merwe (1-30), while Johann Louw (2-36) also chipped in as the visitors were limited to 8-139.
Van der Merwe also made a useful contribution with the bat, slamming 48 from only 30 deliveries as the hosts posted 5-156.
In response, the tourists raced to 37 from only four and a half overs before they were pegged back by Albie Morkel, who managed to outfox David Warner walking down the wicket and yorked him for 20.
One run later, Abdullah sent a slanting delivery across Ricky Ponting, tempting him to drive, but he only managed to edge behind to Mark Boucher.
Botha brought himself on and, after going for only two in his first over, came back and bowled Michael Clarke going for a powerful sweep with the first ball of his second for 27, before hesitation between new man Callum Ferguson and David Hussey led to the former being run out.
Needing 92 from 54 balls, Hussey briefly threatened to emulate his 88 from 44 balls at the Wanderers on Friday before he was eventually out for 27.
The score was 101 at the time and only five more runs were added before the fall of the next wicket - Cameron White slogging a Botha delivery straight to JP Duminy on the boundary for 23.
Louw then came in to bowl the final over with Australia needing 27 to win and he struck with his second ball - James Hopes miscuing a slower ball to Morkel at mid-wicket for 18.
Nathan Bracken (nought) then top-edged his fifth ball, leaving Brad Haddin unbeaten on 16 and Australia 17 runs short of victory.
Earlier, Titans all-rounder Van der Merwe's innings proved the highlight in front of his home crowd at Supersport Park, thumping four sixes and two fours in his 30-ball innings to help the South Africans post a decent total after they were kept in check by the Australian bowlers.
Shane Harwood (2-21) and Hopes (1-26) were largely responsible for that after Ponting had earlier won the toss and decided to bowl.
Gibbs and Robin Peterson, who was promoted to open the batting, made a decent start, taking the score to 22 before the former was out for 20.
Seven balls later, another debutant in Ben Laughlin struck in his first over of international cricket when De Villiers went hard at a wide delivery but only managed to pick out White at short cover for a duck.
Peterson and Duminy began to build nicely thereafter with a 47-run partnership before Peterson gave himself too much room on the leg side and was bowled by Hopes for 34.
Duminy then walked across his stumps looking to paddle-sweep but completely missed the ball and was bowled by Harwood for 23.
Morkel (14 not out) and Boucher (nine not out) tried their best to up the tempo but were restricted by the Australians.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting was happy with the overall performance in the four-wicket loss to South Africa in the first Twenty20 international against South Africa, but not as pleased with the result.
The Aussies looked likely to win the match when the hosts needed 84 from 47 balls with only five wickets remaining.
However, Australia couldn't get the wickets it needed and South Africa won a thrilling encounter with just four balls to spare.
"I'm disappointed to lose the game, because we certainly got ourselves into a position in which we probably should have won," he said.
"That's what's the disappointing thing about it. If we hadn't gotten ourselves into that position then I wouldn't have been too disappointed."
"You want to win every game you play and we wanted to win tonight. We've trained well the last couple of days."
"We were a long way off our best cricket tonight, but the satisfying thing is that we had a very good chance to win the game."
Australia had several unfamiliar names in its team tonight, including Shane Harwood and Brett Geeves - who conceded 83 runs between them in 7.2 overs - and Ponting is hoping they can learn from the experience.
"Geeves and Harwood playing tonight, a couple of guys that have been the best performers in domestic cricket back in Australia, they deserved the opportunity to play," he added.
"Both would have learned a lot from the experience, they're bowling to good players on good wickets."
"It just goes to show in this game you've got to execute everything, almost perfectly as a bowler or you're going to go around the park."
"So, they'll learn a lot from that and the more games we can get into the younger guys, it's a chance for them to learn and for us it's a chance to learn more about them and the better off we'll obviously be."
Proteas captain Johan Botha was full of praise for Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel after they helped South Africa snatch the unlikely victory at the Wanderers.
Chasing 166, the Proteas looked well out of the game at 5-83 with just under eight overs remaining, before the pair put on 58 in five pulsating overs to edge the hosts closer to victory.
Morkel was eventually out for 37 off just 19 balls with the score on 141, but Boucher finished unbeaten on 36 to hand his side a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Speaking afterwards, the captain was full of praise for his wicketkeeper, who has come under intense pressure in recent months following his lack of contribution with the bat.
But Botha said: "He's done it many times before and he just showed us again tonight that he's probably our best finisher with Albie."
"He deserves his place in the team and has a lot of input off the field as well which makes him very valuable."
Reflecting on Morkel's performance, he continued: "I think he showed us all summer how good he can be."
"With 62 off 30, a lot of teams will think they're out of it, but with our two guys that were still in, we knew we were still in it."
"They showed that at the end and Albie's bowling too is important. He's a world-class all-rounder."
Botha admitted that the victory, only their second in a total of five against the Australians, was very pleasing.
"It was a really good win tonight," he added. "It got a bit tight, but with those two out there we had hope.
"That's what they get paid for, the big bucks, because they do it under pressure and they did it again tonight. But with those two in and with a long way to go, we knew we still had a chance."
The two sides have a day's rest before doing battle again on Sunday (SA time) at SuperSport Park.
A maiden career century from Mitchell Johnson was little consolation for Australia as Paul Harris grabbed six wickets to help South Africa wrap up the third Test by an innings and 20 runs in Cape Town.
The tourists, who won the opening two matches of the three-Test series, were all out for 422 on the fourth afternoon at Newlands to lose by an innings for the first time in exactly 11 years.
Harris, the slow left-armer, was the Proteas' star man in notching his best-Test haul of six for 127, but the day undoubtedly belonged to Johnson after he slammed an unbeaten 123 in just 103 balls to help his side go down fighting.
He was given superb support from Andrew McDonald, who made 68 to share a 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket, as the visitors tried their best to make the home side bat again.
But the dismissal of the Victorian all-rounder spelt the beginning of the end, which came when Harris sent Ben Hilfenhaus on his way to hand the Australians a first innings defeat since they lost to India at Calcutta in 1998.
The day began with Ricky Ponting's men playing a game of patience, which saw them score a mere 40 runs in the morning session.
They had to wait until the sixth over of the day for their first run, which came courtesy of a fine cover drive by Michael Hussey off Makhaya Ntini for four.
Simon Katich had a real let-off in claiming his first run - Dale Steyn sent in a full delivery outside off stump that was chased after by the left-hander with the ball flying straight to Harris, who failed to hold on to a simple chance at gully.
The New South Wales batsman then brought up his half-century by walking across his stumps and swatting Albie Morkel down to the fine leg boundary for four.
But he was out for 54 not long after, playing a wide and tossed up delivery off Harris straight to JP Duminy at mid-off to end a 159-ball stay.
There was still time for another scare for the tourists, which came in the final over before lunch when Michael Clarke was given out caught behind by umpire Steve Bucknor - who was standing in his last-ever Test match.
Mark Boucher took a simple catch, but the batsman referred the decision on the grounds that he failed to get an edge on the Jacques Kallis delivery and replays revealed he was correct.
Australia headed into lunch at 142 for three.
Resuming after the break, Hussey's determined innings of 39 soon came to an end when he was surprised by a Steyn ball that kicked up off the pitch and succeeded only in finding Duminy at gully.
Brad Haddin came in with a little more intent and was handed a lifeline when he was put down in a Harris over by close fielder AB de Villiers in what was a tough chance that took the bat and pad along the way.
However, the bowler had his revenge in his next over when he tempted the Australian wicketkeeper to come down the track and attempt to lift him for four.
The ball only ended up being chipped into the air and Duminy ran back from mid-on to take a fine diving catch with Haddin gone for 18.
And Steyn then removed the last of the recognised batsmen, when he sent in a full length ball that Clarke tried to play through the covers, but the ball was played on to his stumps for 47 as the visitors reached tea at 231 for six.
But any hopes by the home side had of immediately wrapping up the Australia tail were thrown out the window by McDonald and Johnson's free-flowing stand.
The pair scored 116 runs in the first hour after tea, including raising the 50 partnership in just over nine overs.
McDonald brought up his first half-century off 56 balls when he drove Kallis for a single, which was followed by Johnson bludgeoning Morkel square of the wicket for four to raise his fourth Test fifty and third against South Africa that came from 51 balls.
The hundred partnership came from 91 balls, before Harris finally managed to put the brakes on when he claimed two wickets in two balls.
The first was that of McDonald, who was caught by the close in fielder De Villiers.
However, he was not convinced and went upstairs, with TV umpire Billy Bowden confirming his fate.
The very next ball, Harris forced Peter Siddle to try and defend and he too succumbed to the same man at silly point as the hosts sensed victory.
But Johnson, who made 96 not out in the first Test at the Wanderers, kept them waiting and brought up his maiden first-class hundred by pulling Steyn for a massive six over mid-wicket reaching his ton in just 86 balls.
In the next over though, he ran out new man Bryce McGain for a duck while attempting to retain the strike - substitute Sybrand Engelbrecht the fielder.
And with the light quickly fading, Hilfenhaus was last man out when he edged Harris to Ashwell Prince at first slip for 12 leaving South Africa to cherish a consolation victory.
Harris was the pick of the bowlers with his six wickets, while Steyn claimed three for 96.
Need of time...indeed twewny 20 horse,is there nay one to handle the ruions of this horse?Certailnly as expected ICC has a confused policy.All the member countries are running thier own leagues etc.There is no system alogether which can be put into a perfect mechanism.
Twenty 20 comes as a great blessing in rather short world of cricket and can cause abrupt development in cricket due to its huge popularity even in domestic competitions.It is a golden moment for cricket and if it not handled properly then the cricket should not get the advantage it should gain.
All the players,ex players,expertises and lovers of cricket game should come forwar and formulate a policy how to handle the twenty 20 format.Its a big time really.
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