Australia v South Africa 2008-09

Australia narrowly survived another lower-order battering to level the series. As at Melbourne, the Australians had allowed their opponents a realistic chase by falling away after the middle of the innings. Warner's 50-over debut was swiftly ended by a wonderful ball from Steyn that turned him front on, but after that Marsh and Ponting again built the platform for what should have become a big total. Their separation in the 30th over heralded South Africa's resurgence, and in all only 92 runs were to trickle from the final 20. The pitch was not Bellerive's most trustworthy one, and South Africa went about their chase carefully after losing Amla and Gibbs early on. Kallis and de Villiers put on 93 in 20 overs, but after they were parted another 105 were needed from the final 91 deliveries: regular wickets, and whole-hearted spells by Bracken and the debutant Ryan Harris, served to stretch the equation. Morkel entered with 45 needed from 19 balls, and though he and Boucher provided a fright, including the only six of the match, they fell one big hit short.