South Africa eye historic whitewash against Aussies

JOHANNESBURG: Ten previous bilateral One-day International (ODI) series between South Africa and Australia have yet to produce a clean sweep. South Africa find themselves within one win of a historic first as the teams lock horns in their fifth and final ODI at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday (today).

With their strongest available side and with back-up options, batting first and chasing — all this without AB de Villiers, the injured regular skipper — South Africa have lorded it over Australia in the first four matches, winning in a canter and ticking over like a well-oiled machine. Their cause might have been helped by the fact that Australia have arrived without their first-choice bowling attack, but that must take nothing away from the manner in which Faf du Plessis’s men have acquitted themselves.

Right from the time Quinton de Kock unleashed that monstrous 178 in the first ODI in Centurion to make light of 294 for 9, South Africa have been a cut above Australia. Already minus de Villiers, recovering from surgery to fix an elbow problem, South Africa were deprived of the services of Hashim Amla for that first game through illness, and saw David Miller ruled out from the fourth ODI onwards with a groin strain. But Rilee Rossouw has filled the breach admirably, making half-centuries in the first two games while opening the batting and chipping in with an unbeaten 33 at No 5 during a regulation chase in the fourth match in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

Du Plessis himself has been in excellent touch in the last two games and South Africa’s batting overall wears a potent look, especially with Australia not having the services of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner for one reason or the other. Chris Tremain, one of three uncapped pacers coming into this short tour, has toiled manfully, but Australia have been woefully short of bowling firepower, evidenced by South Africa’s scores of 295 for 4 (36.2 overs, chasing), 361 for 6 (50 overs, batting first), 372 for 6 (49.2 overs, chasing) and 168 for 4 (35.3 overs, chasing) in the first four matches.

In a bid to give their bench a go, South Africa rested Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir for the fourth game, bringing in Kyle Abbott, Tabraiz Shamsi and Aaron Phangiso. Abbott, the right-arm paceman, wrecked Australia with 4 for 40 while Shamsi, the chinaman bowler, picked up 3 for 36 including the wickets of Steven Smith and Travis Head in three deliveries. Phangiso, the left-arm orthodox spinner, finished with 2 for 17 as Australia were shot out for 167, the lowest total of the series.

Apart from the third game where David Warner and Smith, the skipper, both smacked centuries, Australia’s batting has been below par. With the bowling attack wearing an inexperienced look, it was the batsmen that were expected to bail the side out, but the lack of consistency has hurt the team badly, and brought things to such a pass that South Africa can realistically hope for a 5-0 sweep — Australia have never been whitewashed in a give-match bilateral ODI series before.

Between the fourth and the fifth ODIs, South Africa named their Test party to tour Australia next month. Figuring in the squad is Shamsi, yet to play a Test match. It remains to be seen if South Africa again expose the unconventional spinner to the Australian line-up, of which Warner and Smith are certain to feature in the Tests and Mitchell Marsh is expected to slot in as the all-rounder.

Despite the repeated setbacks, Australia still occupy the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings, though South Africa have whittled that lead. Australia currently have 119 ratings points to second-placed South Africa’s 115. Should South Africa win on Wednesday, they will close to within two points of Australia’s 118. If Australia pull off a consolation win, they will extend their tally to 120, and open up a six-point lead over the No 2 ODI side in the world.

Teams (from)

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.

Australia: Steven Smith (captain), George Bailey, Scott Boland, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Joe Mennie, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa.