Timber, It's all over! Full and straight, bang on middle, Harwood tries his level best to dig it out but can't get his bat down in time, the stumps are pegged back and the crowd roars
South Africa vs Australia, 4th ODI at Gqeberha, Apr 13 2009 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
4th ODI, Gqeberha, April 13, 2009, Australia tour of South Africa
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AUS
Full commentary
Three successive wins have handed South Africa the series here. Australia were in the hunt with the kind of start they got from Clarke and Haddin, who added 129. But three wickets in fairly quick succession, all to spinners turned the tide in favour of South Africa. van der Merwe was the star for them with the ball, taking three wickets 3 for 46, including the half-centurion Clarke and Michael Hussey. Ponting started off slowly but got into his groove a little too late with five wickets down. He took four boundaries off an over from Steyn in the third powerplay but fell off the final ball, proving decisive in the outcome. Hopes tried to resist, but Steyn came back well to clean up the tail and finish with 4 for 44.
Ponting: "It (the score) was too many in the end. We let them off in the middle and towards the end of their innings. Gibbs played a sensational knock, and despite the movement early on, we couldn't do well enough. We are professional cricketers and we try to do our best each time we play. We weren't able to do well this time, and the South Africans outplayed us in the last three games."
Herschelle Gibbs is the Man of the Match for his 110.
Gibbs: "It's a beautiful ground to play and a beautiful crowd as well. It was a matter of getting through the new ball, and the guys prepared a really good wicket. It was all about getting partnerships up front and the guys finished up very well in the end. It was nice to get some runs today and finish off what has been a really peaceful easter weekend."
Smith: "Another very good day for us, and the batsmen did a superb job. Gibbs has been getting some starts, but it was good to see him do well today. We were going to bat anyway, but we were hoping for the pitch to slow up. It is a bit unusual for Australia to bowl first in big games. Everyone's contributing with both bat and ball, and we'll look to finish the series on a high note at the Wanderers."
That's all we have from here folks. Thanks for tuning in and sending us all your feedback. We'll see you again for the fifth and final ODI in Johannesburg on April 17. Until then, on behalf of all of us at Cricinfo, it's Siddhartha Talya signing off. Adios!
45.5
W
Steyn to Harwood, OUT
Shane Harwood b Steyn 0 (4b 0x4 0x6 2m) SR: 0
45.4
•
Steyn to Harwood, no run
much fuller but almost touching 150 once again, Harwood slashes hard, predictably misses
45.3
•
Steyn to Harwood, no run
bowled at a fiery pace that, 152.1 kmph, zipped past Harwood even before he had decided to play the stroke
45.2
•
Steyn to Harwood, no run
short of a length outside off, makes room to cut, misses
South Africa are on the brink of a series win here. Just one more wicket needed. Harwood, the debutant, is now on strike
45.1
W
Steyn to Hauritz, OUT
the end is nearing for the visitors now! Slightly short on middle, Hauritz makes room to dab that down to third man, misses it completely and the ball crashes into the stumps
Nathan Hauritz b Steyn 3 (5b 0x4 0x6 9m) SR: 60
end of over 458 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 256/8CRR: 5.68 • RRR: 12.40
Nathan Bracken0 (1b)
Nathan Hauritz3 (4b)
Wayne Parnell 9-0-64-1
Albie Morkel 5-0-25-1
44.6
•
Parnell to Bracken, no run
on middle and off, pushed firmly towards cover, decide against the single
44.5
1
Parnell to Hauritz, 1 run
short of a length on the off, swatted over the bowler's head just short of de Villiers at long-off
Bracken walks in
It's all but over for the Australians now
44.4
W
Parnell to Hopes, OUT
good length on middle and leg but moved a hint away from the batsman, Hopes tried to clip that over the in-field on the leg side, was into the shot a little too early, lobbed off the outside-half of the bat in the direction of backward point where Gibbs took a dolly
James Hopes c Gibbs b Parnell 31 (28b 3x4 0x6 41m) SR: 110.71
44.3
2
Parnell to Hopes, 2 runs
full on middle and off, flicked away in front of square for a couple wide of deep midwicket
44.2
4
Parnell to Hopes, FOUR runs
good length on middle, he gets to the pitch and lofts it cleanly over the bowler's head, de Villiers flings himself to his left to pluck that out of thin air but it evades him and bounces just in front of the ropes
44.1
1lb
Parnell to Hauritz, 1 leg bye
short of a length on middle, hits him on the ribs as he tries to fend that away on the leg side, gets a single
end of over 445 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 248/7CRR: 5.63 • RRR: 11.66
Nathan Hauritz2 (2b)
James Hopes25 (25b 2x4)
Albie Morkel 5-0-25-1
Wayne Parnell 8-0-57-0
43.6
1
Morkel to Hauritz, 1 run
inswinger, full on the off stump, dug out wide of cover for quick single
43.5
1
Morkel to Hopes, 1 run
attempted yorker on middle, flicked away towards deep midwicket for a single
43.4
1
Morkel to Hauritz, 1 run
on middle and leg, driven down the ground to long-on
Nathan Hauritz comes in
43.3
W
Morkel to Johnson, OUT
superb yorker on middle, Johnson has made room but the length just isn't right for him, in the blockhole, he fails to get his bat down in time and the stumps take a beating!
Mitchell Johnson b Morkel 5 (6b 0x4 0x6 11m) SR: 83.33
43.2
1
Morkel to Hopes, 1 run
yorker length on middle, dug out in the direction of long-on
43.1
1
Morkel to Johnson, 1 run
slower ball on middle and leg, chips it towards long-on for a single
75 needed off 42
end of over 4312 runs
AUS: 243/6CRR: 5.65 • RRR: 10.71
James Hopes23 (23b 2x4)
Mitchell Johnson4 (4b)
Wayne Parnell 8-0-57-0
Albie Morkel 4-0-20-0
42.6
4
Parnell to Hopes, FOUR runs
Hopes is Australia's big hope now, short on the off stump, pulled away powerfully to beat deep midwicket, they need many more of these
42.5
1
Parnell to Johnson, 1 run
full on the off stump, swings across the line and drills it down to long-on
42.4
1
Parnell to Hopes, 1 run
full outside off, is down on one knee and swats it to long-off
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