Cool headed Hussey guides Australia to series win

• Australia vs South Africa – Third ODI – Durban

By Dinouk Colombage

A typically cool headed knock from Michael Hussey guided Australia through a nervous period to ensure victory and a series win in their third and final ODI in Durban on Friday.

Australia chasing 223 to win after a below par effort by South Africa had slid to a slightly unsteady 156 for 5 in the 35th over before Hussey made 45 not out from 64 balls and helped Australia record the victory they needed.
Hussey and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (23) added a crucial 38 runs for the sixth wicket and although Mitchell Johnson fell cheaply, Hussey shepherded his side through in the company of Cummins.
The game had been dubbed as the ‘Grand Final’, a match up between two of the top teams in one day cricket. A win for South Africa would see them draw level with Australia in the rankings, while a loss for Australia would be the first series loss under the new regime of Michael Clarke.
South Africa’s Hashim Amla won the toss and elected to bat first on a fast and bouncy Durban wicket. With the possibility of showers later in the night, South Africa would have wanted to have the added advantage of scoreboard pressure.
Amla and Graeme Smith got the innings off at a rate of knots as they took 22 runs off the first two overs, including 16 of Pat Cummins opening over. With South Africa having set the early tempo, it was up to the Australian bowlers to respond. And that they did, with Doug Bollinger and Cummins readjusting their length and line the two opening bowlers cut off all scoring opportunities for the Proteas.
In the next twelve overs a paltry 27 runs were scored, the pressure finally told on the South Africans as Smith was acrobatically caught by Michael Hussey on inches from the boundary rope. Amla was joined by the ever reliable Jacques Kallis, and the two of them looked to get the innings back on track.
With the two of them at the crease Clarke knew that boundaries would not be flying off the bat, so he continued to set attacking fields cutting off the runs at any possible opportunity. Having reached his fifty, the supporters were expecting a big score from Amla, however, a misjudged single brought an end to his innings as he was run out for 52.
With the partnership broken, it was looking more and more like Kallis would have to see the innings home if South Africa were to post a competitive score. However, he too got undone in his pursuit of quick runs as he was caught on the deep square boundary off the bowling of Xavier Doherty. With the two senior players gone, the pressure was back on J.P. Duminy and Faf du Plessis the heroes of the previous game.
Unfortunately for the home supporters their heroics could not be repeated. Du Plessis was the first to fall, as he was outfoxed by a well disguised Cummins’ slower delivery. Duminy, whose innings had come to a complete halt, was the next to go as he was caught at midwicket of the bowling of Mitchell Johnson. Mark Boucher was the last wicket to fall in the final over, giving Johnson his second for the night.
With a score of 223 to chase, it looked as though the Australians would win this comfortably. Shane Watson and David Warner got their side off to the now customary blazing start as they punished both Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Watson was particularly damaging down the ground as he drove confidently on a wicket that showed it had bounce.
Warner, who had taken a back step to the Watson show, was the first to go as he was caught behind of Morkel for 10. Watson was joined by Ricky Ponting, and the two of them continued to eat away at the target with ease. With Watson closing in on his fifty, Kallis was introduced in to the attack. He immediately made an impact dismissing the opener on 49, giving the South Africans a sniff at getting back in the game. Australia suffered a second blow quickly with Ponting giving Johan Botha a simple return catch.
At 82 for 3, it was looking like the Australians were beginning to feel the pressure more than the South Africans. However, the calm heads of Clarke and Shaun Marsh combined for a valuable 48 run partnership. With the game looking as though it was once again slipping out of the South African’s grasp Duminy was introduced and provided an immediate breakthrough. He removed Clarke with an arm ball, before returning after the drinks break to dislodge Shaun Marsh.
Tottering at 156 for 5, still needing a further 67 runs, it was left to Mr. Cricket -Michael Hussey – to see his team home. He first combined with the horribly out of form Brad Haddin for a 38 run partnership, before seeing Australia home with Cummins in support.
The win, and the series, has now set up the rest of the tour nicely as the two teams swap the coloured clothes for the traditional whites. Of course, judging by the games so far, people will keep asking the usual question of why the test series is only two matches.