A nail-biting finish for South Africa A in final match

South Africa A came within a whisker of winning the fifth and final match of the one-day series against Australia A at the WACA Ground in Perth. Australia A won the match by one run to clinch the series 3-1.

After winning the toss, Australia A captain Simon Katich opted to bat. Openers Chris Rogers and Brad Hodge raced to 88 for 1 before South Africa A allrounder Justin Kemp sent Rogers back to the pavilion for 22. But Hodge continued unabated, playing 102 balls with eight fours and a six for his hundred. He and Ryan Campbell put on 128 for the second wicket. Campbell, who perished on 64, hit a run-a-ball half-century. Katich once again failed to impress and was clean bolwed by spinner Nicky Boje for 10. Another substantial partnership, 51 runs for the 4th wicket, between Hodge and Michael Hussey saw the home team reach 282 with the dismissal of Hodge for 164. Clinton Perren (16*) and Nathan Hauritz took their team through to 304 for 6 in 50 overs. The South African bowlers Dewald Pretorius, Charl Langeveldt, Kemp, Boje and Adam Bacher took one wicket each..

Needing just over six runs per over, South Africa's reply started tentatively. First to leave was Ahmed Amla trapped in front of the stumps for 5. He was followed by fellow opener, Morne van Wyk who scored 19 to leave South Africa at 33 for 2. However, Martin van Jaarsveld and Albie Morkel, who batted at number three, took up the fight, with Morkel in the pinch-hitting role. He smashed his 50 from 39 balls including seven fours and two sixes to register the fastest 50 of the series. This pair shared a stand of 125 runs before Morkel was out for 79 which came off 68 balls. Van Jaarsveld was then joined by Ashwell Prince in another crucial partnership of 80 runs. But this company was broken by Damien Wright who claimed his second scalp with the dismissal of Prince for 47. Captain Gerald Dros was trapped lbw for 2. He was followed by Bacher who was run out on the same score to have the South African team at 246 for 6 with 9 overs left. Then, vice captain Boje and Van Jaarsveld tried hard to bring their team home, but the latter was caught at midwicket by Hodge off Ian Harvey for 102. It was now left to Boje and Kemp to win this match for South Africa and they came within a whisker. Needing 3 runs from 1 ball it just could not happen and Boje concluded his innings 22 not out and Kemp 12 not out.

The Aussie A bowlers, Damien Wright and Harvey bagged two wickets each and Stuart Clark and Hauritz grabbed one apiece.

Australia A restricted South Africa A to 303 for 7 to win by a solitary run and clinch the series 3-1.

ADVISORY:

South Africa A squad are due to arrive in Johannesburg on the Qantas flight from Perth at 17:00 on Thursday.

Media Enquiries: Moabi Litheko +61-42-533-1165

Bronwyn Wilkinson Communications Director United Cricket Board of South Africa +27-83-212-8255