The Hindu : Series win for Australia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 05, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Series win for Australia

Adam Gilchrist , whose brilliant century helped Australia beat South Africa in the fifth one-day International and clinch the series in style. — Reuters

Durban April 4. Adam Gilchrist scored a superb century to help Australia clinch the one-day series against South Africa in Durban on Thursday. Gilchrist scored 105 off 104 balls with 12 fours and a six as Australia totalled 271 for two in reply to South Africa's 267 for six to canter to victory by eight wickets with 13 balls to spare.

The result gave Australia, which won the test series 2-1, a 4-0 lead in the seven-match rubber with two matches to play.

Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden scored almost half of the target between them in an opening stand of 170 off 185 balls, the biggest first wicket partnership by Australia against South Africa. It was ended in the 31st over when Hayden was bowled off the inside edge by fast bowler Mornantau Hayward for 59. Hayden, the quieter of the opening pair, hit seven fours off the 91 balls he faced.

Gilchrist batted with fine timing and crushing power and scored all around the wicket before, three overs after Hayden's dismissal, he lofted a delivery from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini to fine leg where debutant Jon Kent did well to hold a spiralling catch.

South Africa wasted a chance to dismiss the devastating Gilchrist when he was 11 in the fifth over, Jacques Kallis at slip spilling a simple catch off the bowling of fast bowler Shaun Pollock.

Ricky Ponting, who scored an unbeaten 44, and Damien Martyn, who was 47 not out, completed Australia's triumph with an unbroken third-wicket stand of 91.

Earlier Jonty Rhodes scored his third consecutive half-century to hold South Africa's innings together. Rhodes blazed 76 off 70 balls with nine fours after the home side was put in to bat.

Mark Boucher scored 41 not out, and shared a sixth-wicket stand of 97 scored off 80 balls with Rhodes. .— Reuters

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