Australia v South Africa, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the fifth ODI, Australia v South Africa, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Sydney, November 23, 2014 (day/night). Australia won by two wickets (D/L). Toss: South Africa.
An ultimately shambling victory ensured Australia carried the No. 1 ranking in one-day internationals into World Cup year. Central to the chase was another masterful display from Smith, who finished the series with 254 runs at 84, and with a strike-rate of 97. With the series already lost, A. B. de Villiers and Dale Steyn both sat out. De Kock assembled a sturdy hundred, and Behardien's late hitting - including an inside-out six over cover off Starc - catapulted him into World Cup contention. A pair of brief showers reduced Australia's target by six runs and two overs, but the top order took advantage of Steyn's absence to bring it within reach. Peterson played a large part in ushering a rush of wickets in the final straight, leaving Faulkner to scramble the winning runs.
Man of the Match: Q. de Kock. Man of the Series: S. P. D. Smith.
An ultimately shambling victory ensured Australia carried the No. 1 ranking in one-day internationals into World Cup year. Central to the chase was another masterful display from Smith, who finished the series with 254 runs at 84, and with a strike-rate of 97. With the series already lost, A. B. de Villiers and Dale Steyn both sat out. De Kock assembled a sturdy hundred, and Behardien's late hitting - including an inside-out six over cover off Starc - catapulted him into World Cup contention. A pair of brief showers reduced Australia's target by six runs and two overs, but the top order took advantage of Steyn's absence to bring it within reach. Peterson played a large part in ushering a rush of wickets in the final straight, leaving Faulkner to scramble the winning runs.
Man of the Match: Q. de Kock. Man of the Series: S. P. D. Smith.