South Africa beat Australia, South Africa won by 3 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)

The winning runs, once again, come off the captain's bat. A rather comfortable win in the end, largely due to Boucher's patience and that frenzied cameo from who else but ... Albie "I'll be there for you" Morkel. It got tight in the middle there when Australia hit back with big wickets, but Albie and Boucher changed all that.

Just a quick recap for anyone who was late to join in. Australia batted first and set a target of 270. Despite a quick start, they were bowled out for 269 in 49.s overs. Botha was in the thick of things, taking 3 for 32 in his 10 overs and two smart catches. In reply for South Africa, Gibbs found some forms in the way he knows best, belting the cover off the ball. Australia were fairly bad with their catching, dropping two in the first over and then allowing the dangerous Albie a chance during the batting Powerplay. Gibbs had some fun, Kallis propped up the innings with a fifty, crossing 10,000 ODI runs today, and then Boucher and Albie played good hands. South Africa lead by 2-1 with two games to go. Those dropped catches made if fairly easy.

Not much dispute in the fact that Albie is the Man of the Match for his 22-ball 40.

We've been Jamie Alter and Sanjay Murari. Until the next game from Adelaide on Jan 26, thats it from Cricinfo.

46.3

Tait to Botha, FOUR runs

lovely shot off bent knee, Tait pitches full and wide and Botha gets to the pitch, driving a classy shot between the covers, and thats it for Australia as South Africa go up 2-1

46.3

Tait to Botha, 1 wide

too wide this time, wobbling away, Botha chases and misses

46.2

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Tait to Botha, no run

fuller still, inviting the drive, but Botha watches it go to Haddin

46.1

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Tait to Botha, no run

full outside off stump, he kneels down and drives to extra cover

Tait gets another over. Just five to win from four overs. Here's Botha.

Over46

15 runs, 1 wicket

SA 265/7CRR: 5.76 RRR: 1.25

MV Boucher 31 (44b 1x4)

NM Hauritz2/60 (9)

But what an innings again from Albie. South Africa will be home with ease. Forty from 22 balls.

45.6

Hauritz to Morkel, OUT

one hit too many, trying to finish it off with a six, but he doesn't get the desired power on the slog and the ball is taken down at wide long-on by Hopes, running around and sliding onto his knees to complete a good catch

Albie Morkel c Hopes b Hauritz 40 (22b 6x4 1x6 33m) SR: 181.81

45.5

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Hauritz to Morkel, no run

smartly fired in wider and Albie has a swing and a miss

45.4

Hauritz to Morkel, FOUR runs

swings again and pings the midwicket ropes, what fun he is

45.3

Hauritz to Morkel, FOUR runs

swings across the line again, miscuing this one up into the starry night, Marsh runs across from midwicket and dives in vain, just missing what would have been a blinder

45.2

Hauritz to Morkel, SIX runs

there she goes! Albie doesn't waste a second in sizing up Hauritz, who tosses it up from around the stumps, down he goes, clearing the front leg and depositing that into the second tier above midwicket, what a stunning hit

How will Morkel tackle spin? The fielders drop deep all round.

45.1

Hauritz to Boucher, 1 run

sweeps from outside off stump into the gap behind square leg

Interesting. Nathan Hauritz has been given the ball after the Powerplay.

Over45

9 runs

SA 250/6CRR: 5.55 RRR: 4.00

JA Morkel 26 (17b 4x4)MV Boucher 30 (43b 1x4)

NW Bracken1/29 (9)

44.6

Bracken to Morkel, FOUR runs

full down leg stump, Albie also moves away and flicks with it away for four, a shot of immense confidence and whats more, he's picked out the gap to ease the pressure

44.5

Bracken to Boucher, 1 run

very full again and this time Boucher squeezes it wide of point

44.4

•

Bracken to Boucher, no run

fuller ball outside off and Boucher hits it back to Bracken

Bracken changes the angle ...

44.3

Bracken to Morkel, 1 run

pitches and slants into leg stump, Albie coolly tucks it for a single

44.2

Bracken to Morkel, 2 runs

whoa there, Albie! Once more he moves outside leg stump and goes for a cut, this time just scooping it over a leaping Marsh at point

44.1

Bracken to Boucher, 1 run

slips up a wide full toss and Bracken cuts it past point for one

Over44

6 runs

SA 241/6CRR: 5.47 RRR: 4.83

MV Boucher 28 (40b 1x4)JA Morkel 19 (14b 3x4)

SW Tait1/50 (9)

43.6

Tait to Boucher, 1 run

makes room, Tait pitches full, and Boucher drives it to extra cover

Not a good idea to overstep on the last ball of an over in the death.

43.6

2nb

Tait to Morkel, (no ball) 1 run

attempted yorker on off stump, again Morkel backs away and steers the ball toward third man and scampers off, Tait has over-stepped so another free hit

43.5

•

Tait to Morkel, no run

another yorker, this one two feet outside off stump to beat the bat

43.4

•

Tait to Morkel, no run

pitches on the stumps and he plays it back to Tait

Australia vs South Africa, 3rd ODI at Sydney, Jan 23 2009 - Match Result