Australia v South Africa, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the fourth ODI, Australia v South Africa, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Melbourne, November 21, 2014 (day/night). Australia won by three wickets. Toss: South Africa.
Smith conjured one of the best innings seen this side of Michael Bevan to deliver Australia's first victory in a bilateral one-day series at home to South Africa, who had made most of the early running. Another sublime contribution from de Villiers, with able support from Miller, had been the spine of South Africa's afternoon. They benefited when Coulter-Nile broke down with more hamstring trouble, but carelessness crept in, and they slipped from 199 for three in the 37th over to a mediocre 267 for eight. That all seemed academic when Australia themselves slid to 98 for five, with Steyn nipping out Bailey and Maxwell - whose bat he broke in half first ball - in successive overs. But Smith did not panic, putting on 121 with Wade, then accelerating as the equation steepened. Wade's exit brought in Faulkner, whose efficiency in finding the boundary allowed Smith to throttle back, perishing only in an attempt to smite the winning runs. For that he could be forgiven: this was Australia's first win over South Africa at Melbourne in seven attempts.
Man of the Match: S. P. D. Smith.
Smith conjured one of the best innings seen this side of Michael Bevan to deliver Australia's first victory in a bilateral one-day series at home to South Africa, who had made most of the early running. Another sublime contribution from de Villiers, with able support from Miller, had been the spine of South Africa's afternoon. They benefited when Coulter-Nile broke down with more hamstring trouble, but carelessness crept in, and they slipped from 199 for three in the 37th over to a mediocre 267 for eight. That all seemed academic when Australia themselves slid to 98 for five, with Steyn nipping out Bailey and Maxwell - whose bat he broke in half first ball - in successive overs. But Smith did not panic, putting on 121 with Wade, then accelerating as the equation steepened. Wade's exit brought in Faulkner, whose efficiency in finding the boundary allowed Smith to throttle back, perishing only in an attempt to smite the winning runs. For that he could be forgiven: this was Australia's first win over South Africa at Melbourne in seven attempts.
Man of the Match: S. P. D. Smith.