Decades Tournament - 2010s South Africa v 2010s Australia

 

South Africa booked their place in the next round with a scintillating 7 wicket win against Australia at Centurion.

After winning the toss, Michael Clarke elected to bat.  It very quickly appeared to be the wrong decision as Australia slipped to 14-2 and eventually to 203 all out.  Chris Rogers continued his rich vein of form, top scoring with 93 while Abbott and Morkel took 3 wickets apiece.

South Africa fared little better on this fast paced wicket as Mitchell Johnston tore through their ranks, taking 6 for 80.  Quinton de Kock top sscored with 71 as South Africa were all out 210, giving them a small 7 run lead.

Australia quickly set about establishing a lead and were 87 for 1 late on day 2 when the game was turned on its head in a crazy 22 minute passage of play.  Australia lost 5 wickets for 17, slumping to 104 for 6 at the close of play as the spin of Keshav Maharaj tilted the game South Africas way.  32 from Mitchell Johnson on the 3rd morning gave Australia some respectability, but they were all out for 175, leaving South Africa a modest target of 169 for victory.

Markram fell early, but a steady 61 from Amla, plus 43 from Elgar and 40 from du Plessis saw South Africa home and through to the next round.

Maharajs 7 for 46 in Australias 2nd innings was the key to South Africas victory and he was a worthy man of the match.

South Africa 2010s: HM Amla; AK Markram; D Elgar; F du Plessis [c]; Q de Kock [w]; VD Philander; KA Maharaj; KJ Abbott; M Morkel; WD Parnell; Imran Tahir

Australia 2010s: SE Marsh; CJL Rogers; MJ Clarke [c]; AC Voges; PSP Handscomb; MS Wade [w]; MG Johnson; DE Bollinger; PM Siddle; JL Pattinson; SNJ O'Keefe

Australia 2010s 1st Innings 203-10 (67.2 Ov)

CJL Rogers 93, AC Voges 29, PSP Handscomb 29, KJ Abbott 3-29, M Morkel 3-45, Imran Tahir 2-31

South Africa 2010s 1st Innings 210-10 (56.1 Ov)

Q de Kock 71, HM Amla 44, VD Philander 27, MG Johnson 6-80, SNJ O'Keefe 2-17

Australia 2010s 2nd Innings 175-10 (52.2 Ov)

SE Marsh 38, CJL Rogers 34, MG Johnson 32, KA Maharaj 7-46

South Africa 2010s 2nd Innings 170-3 (41.1 Ov)

HM Amla 61, D Elgar 43*, F du Plessis 40

South Africa 2010s win by 7 wickets

Man of the Match: KA Maharaj

With that, Group J is completed.

India and South Africa qualify for the next round as we move into the final Group of the tournament, Group K, the 2020s.