Australia v South Africa, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Australia v South Africa, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Perth, November 14, 2014. Australia won by 32 runs. Toss: South Africa.
Australia's victory was overshadowed by Clarke's latest hamstring injury, while the comfortable margin obscured some scrappy cricket from both sides. Clarke had already suffered a muscle strain when, on 11, he miscued an attempted pull off Steyn, in their first meeting since a heated disagreement in March. A useful 70 from Bailey, who assumed the captaincy in the field, was the result of some clean hitting, but also the shelling of four chances, and some late blows by Maxwell took Australia up to 300. Johnson's early capture of de Kock and Amla - two of five catches for Wade, standing in for the injured Brad Haddin - was pivotal to Australia's defence, and meant that stands of 126 between de Villiers and Miller, and an entertaining 46 for the last wicket between Morkel and Imran Tahir, could be successfully absorbed; Coulter-Nile finished with a career-best four for 48. Twelfth man Steven Smith executed the crucial run-out of de Villiers when Steyn sent his captain back. Both de Villiers and Bailey were fined 40% of their match fee for slow over-rates.
Man of the Match: N. M. Coulter-Nile.
Australia's victory was overshadowed by Clarke's latest hamstring injury, while the comfortable margin obscured some scrappy cricket from both sides. Clarke had already suffered a muscle strain when, on 11, he miscued an attempted pull off Steyn, in their first meeting since a heated disagreement in March. A useful 70 from Bailey, who assumed the captaincy in the field, was the result of some clean hitting, but also the shelling of four chances, and some late blows by Maxwell took Australia up to 300. Johnson's early capture of de Kock and Amla - two of five catches for Wade, standing in for the injured Brad Haddin - was pivotal to Australia's defence, and meant that stands of 126 between de Villiers and Miller, and an entertaining 46 for the last wicket between Morkel and Imran Tahir, could be successfully absorbed; Coulter-Nile finished with a career-best four for 48. Twelfth man Steven Smith executed the crucial run-out of de Villiers when Steyn sent his captain back. Both de Villiers and Bailey were fined 40% of their match fee for slow over-rates.
Man of the Match: N. M. Coulter-Nile.