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Australia vs South Africa, 1st ODI at Melbourne, , Jan 16 2009 - Match Result

RESULT
1st ODI (D/N), Melbourne, January 16, 2009, South Africa tour of Australia
(49.3/50 ov, T:272) 272/7

South Africa won by 3 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
40* (18) & 2/58
albie-morkel
Match centre 
Scorecard summary
Australia 271/8(50 overs)
79 (97)
2/50 (10)
52 (50)
2/58 (9)
South Africa 272/7(49.3 overs)
2/43 (10)
2/55 (9.3)

10.07 pm: Phew, what entertainment! South Africa were cruising when Duminy and McKenzie were batting. Then their middle order collapsed and Australia were on top with four overs remaining. However, Albie Morkel played a fiery cameo and made superb use of the final Powerplay. He finished with 40 off 18 balls and gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. He's the Player of the Match.

The next game is on Sunday in Hobart. That one is a day game. That's about it from us at Cricinfo today. Thank you for all your emails, it's been fun. This is George Binoy signing off, good night!

49.3
1
Hilfenhaus to Botha, 1 run

South Africa have won! Botha pushes a low full toss towards mid-off and runs frantically, David Hussey runs in to try and score a run out, but he fumbles, he doesn't pick up, the batsmen complete the single, what scenes of celebration! Botha pumps his fists

49.2
Hilfenhaus to Botha, no run

Botha swings hard, looking for the big hit down the ground, he inside edges on to his boot, dot ball!

49.1
1
Hilfenhaus to Morkel, 1 run

full toss, Albie swings, Albie edges towards short fine leg, he runs the single, the scores are level

South Africa need two to win a thrilling contest. Hilfenhaus is bowling the final over. The Powerplay is over but the field is in.

end of over 495 runs
SA: 270/7CRR: 5.51 RRR: 2.00
Albie Morkel39 (17b 4x4 1x6)
Johan Botha11 (16b 1x4)
Nathan Bracken 10-2-49-1
Ben Hilfenhaus 9-1-53-2
48.6
3
Bracken to Morkel, 3 runs

Albie goes back to a length ball and pulls towards deep midwicket, it's heading for the boundary but White dives full length and cuts it off, they run three! Albie keeps the strike

Five to win, Bracken from over the wicket.

48.5
1
Bracken to Botha, 1 run

shorter length and Botha pulls towards deep midwicket for a single, over to Albie

Two balls of Powerplay left.

48.4
Bracken to Botha, no run

Botha tries to slog again, what is he doing?! He misses and gets hit on the body, he wants the single but gets sent back, Clarke throws the ball to Haddin who breaks the stumps, Botha dives desperately and just makes it back

48.3
Bracken to Botha, no run

Botha tries to hit one outside off too hard but misses once again, another dot ball

48.2
Bracken to Botha, no run

Botha goes back to cut but gets beaten outside off stump, Haddin is standing up to the stumps

Bracken goes round the wicket ....6 off 11 balls.

48.1
1
Bracken to Morkel, 1 run

slower ball and Albie hits it gently towards long-on for a single

This is the last Powerplay over. Seven needed for South Africa, only 7 off 12 balls. Albie's played a stellar innings.

end of over 4818 runs
SA: 265/7CRR: 5.52 RRR: 3.50
Albie Morkel35 (15b 4x4 1x6)
Johan Botha10 (12b 1x4)
Ben Hilfenhaus 9-1-53-2
Nathan Bracken 9-2-44-1
47.6
3
Hilfenhaus to Morkel, 3 runs

Albie gets an edge towards Bracken at short third man, and he fumbles! He fumbles to allow two extra runs! 18 off the over!

47.5
2
Hilfenhaus to Morkel, 2 runs

full toss and Albie hits it to Marsh at deep midwicket, he fires the throw back in but can't stop the single

47.4
4
Hilfenhaus to Morkel, FOUR runs

Albie Morkel! He waits for a short of a length ball to angle into him, and then opens the face to steer the ball between the keeper and short third man for four

47.3
4
Hilfenhaus to Morkel, FOUR runs

Albie's doing it! He's doing it! He moves back to a delivery on leg stump and whips it off his pads past the fielder at short fine leg, superb placement, Tait can't stop it with his dive

47.2
1
Hilfenhaus to Botha, 1 run

dug out towards White at cover for a single, Botha's a goner if White hits at the bowler's end but he misses

47.1
4
Hilfenhaus to Botha, FOUR runs

poor line! Too full on leg stump and Botha leans across and flicks the ball past short fine leg for four, awful line when fine leg is in the circle

South Africa need 25 off 18. Three wickets in hand, two Powerplay overs left.

end of over 4713 runs
SA: 247/7CRR: 5.25 RRR: 8.33
Albie Morkel22 (11b 2x4 1x6)
Johan Botha5 (10b)
Nathan Bracken 9-2-44-1
Ben Hilfenhaus 8-1-35-2
46.6
6
Bracken to Morkel, SIX runs

that's hammered several rows back! Albie gets under a length delivery and clobbers it with a perfectly straight bat over the bowler's head, terrific strike!

46.5
1
Bracken to Botha, 1 run

the slower ball outside off stump, Botha lines it up and slogs towards deep square leg, just the single this time

46.4
2
Bracken to Botha, 2 runs

Botha swings the full ball into the gap at midwicket, they'll get two more

46.3
1
Bracken to Morkel, 1 run

Albie comes down the track, Bracken drops the ball shorter, Albie steers towards short third man

Third man comes in, there's a fielder at cow corner now, along with long on and long off.

46.2
2
Bracken to Morkel, 2 runs

low full toss and Albie slogs it towards wide long-on for two more

Mid-off and mid-on drop back to the boundary. Third man is the other fielder in the deep.

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
SE Marsh
79 runs (97)
4 fours1 six
Productive shot
off side drive on front foot
31 runs
3 fours1 six
Control
85%
JP Duminy
71 runs (93)
0 four0 six
Productive shot
leg glance
23 runs
0 four0 six
Control
85%
Best performances - bowlers
SW Tait
O
10
M
0
R
43
W
2
ECO
4.3
J Botha
O
10
M
0
R
50
W
2
ECO
5
Match details
Melbourne Cricket Ground
TossAustralia, elected to bat first
Series
Season2008/09
Player Of The Match
Series resultSouth Africa led the 5-match series 1-0
Match numberODI no. 2795
Hours of play (local time)14.15 start, First Session 14.15-17.45 Interval 17.45-18.30, Second Session 18.30-22.00
Match days16 January 2009 - daynight (50-over match)
ODI debut
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
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Instant answers to T20 questions
South Africa Innings
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