South Africa win 3rd ODI by 25 runs, lead series 2-1!

Advantage South Africa in the current Aussie tour. With both sides winning one match each in the 5-match ODI series, South Africa once again beat Australia comfortably and convincingly int he third ODI to take 2-1 lead.

Batting first, Gibbs and Smith started slowly. Smith got out early, caught behind. The veteran Jacque Kallis and DeVilliers gave South Africa a comfortable position. From 50 for 2 in 14.2 overs, Kallis and DeVilliers started the recovery process.

As this is a crucial game for both the teams, nobody wanted to take chance. Both Kallis and DeVilliers added another 50 to their list. Kallis scored 70 while DeVilliers scored 80. They both added 114 runs for the 3rd wicket in 21.4 overs. Duminy (32 off 26 balls) and Morkel (29 off 25 balls) gave momentum in the final overs. Mark Boucher scored quick runs in the final overs--28 off 15 balls which helped SA to post 289 in 50 overs. South Africa added 91 runs in the last 56 balls. Micheal Johnson picked 4 wickets for Australia.

Australian start was not very convincing. Both Steyn and Parnell maintained a good line and length. This made scoring difficult and increased the required run rate.

Haddin (15 off 34), Clarke (35 off 49), Ponting (20 off 35) consumed lot of deliveries but could not score runs. The top three batsmen consumed 118 balls and scored just 70 runs.

Michael Hussey was unlucky go be given an inner edge as leg before. He scored just 1 run. Ferguson scored a good half-century which would definitely increse his confidence level.

Hopes scored another 50, but it did not help the cause. He was unbeaten on 63 and Geeves as 10 not out when Australia ended their innings at 264 for 7.

There was not big partnership as with SA's Kallis and DeVilliers. The 97-run parternship for the 6th wicket was too late for Australia. VD Merwe picked 3 wickets for 37 runs while Both and Duminy picked one each.

Score: (Toss won by SA)

South Africa 289 for 6 in 50 overs (Gibbs 26, Smith 8, Kallis 70, DeVilliers 80, Duminy 32, A Morkel 29, Boucher 28 not out, Merwe 6 not out, Extras--10 (lb 4, w 2, nb 4), Johnson 4 for 34, Bracken 1 for 58, Geeves 1 for 67, Hauritz 0 for 37, Hopes 0 for 64, Hussey 0 for 25) beat Australia 264 for 7 in 50 overs (Haddin 15, M Clarke 35, Ponting 20, D Hussey 20, M Hussey 1, Ferguson 63, Hopes 63 not out, Johnson 9, Geeves 10 not out, Extras--28 (b 5, lb 14, w 9), Steyn 0 for 44, Parnell 0 for 47, Kallis 0 for 19, A Morkel 0 for 33, Botha 1 for 59, Merwe 3 for 37, Duminy 1 for 6)

Player of the Match: Jacque Kallis of SA
Match Result: SA won by 25 runs
Series Result: SA lead 5 match series 2-1

Australia tour to South Africa - Schedule

After losing the series to South Africa in the home soil in 2008, Australia is touring South Africa for a revenge in 2009. The tour starts with a 3-day practice match followed by test matches, T20s and ODIs. Australia is lead by Ricky Ponting and hopefully South Africa has its captain Greame Smith back from the injury for leading the team.

Pracitice Game Schedule:

Practice Match: Fri Feb 20-22, 2009, Australia v. SA Board President's XI at Potchefstroom at 10:00 Local, 08:00 GMT, 13:30 IST

Test Match Schedule:

1st Test: Thu Feb 26-Mar 2, 2009 at Johannesburg at 10:30 Local, 08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST

2nd Test: Fri Mar 6-10, 2009 at Durban at 10:30 Local, 08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST

3rd Test: Thu Mar 19-23, 2009 at Cape Town at 10:30 Local, 08:30 GMT, 14:00 IST

T20 Schedule:

1st T20: Fri Mar 27, 2009 at Johannesburg at 18:00 Local, 16:00, GMT 21:30 IST

2nd T20: Sun Mar 29, 2009 at Centurion at 18:00 Local, 16:00 GMT, 21:30 IST

ODI Schedule

1st ODI: Fri Apr 3, 2009 at Durban at 14:30 Local, 12:30 GMT, 18:00 IST

2nd ODI: Sun Apr 5, 2009 at Centurion at 10:00 Local, 08:00 GMT, 13:30 IST

3rd ODI: Thu Apr 9, 2009 at Cape Town at 14:30 Local, 12:30 GMT, 18:00 IST

4th ODI: Mon Apr 13, 2009 at Port Elizabeth at 10:00 Local, 108:00 GMT, 13:30 IST

5th ODI: Fri Apr 17, 2009 at Johannesburg at 14:30 Local, 12:30 GMT, 18:00 IST

Bangladesh tour to South Africa - 2008-09

The Bangladesh team is touring South Africa in November 2008. The one month starts with a T20 game and then 3 ODIs. The Bangladesh team is also playing in a two-day practice match against the South African Airways Challenge XI which is followed by two test matches. The Bangladesh team is lead by Mohammad Ashraful and SA is lead by Greame Smith.

South African Team List:

T20 Squad: Johan Botha (Captain), Loots Bosman, AB de Villiers (Wicket-Keeper), Jean-Paul Duminy, Hershelle Gibss, Rory Kleinveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Greame Smith, and Dale Steyn

ODI Squad: Greame Smith (Captain), Johan Botha (Vice-Captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (Wicket-Keeper), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Johann Louw, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Dale Steyn, and Monde Zondeki

Test Squad: Greame Smith (Captain), Ashwell Prince (Vice-Captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (Wicket-Keeper), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, and Monde Zondeki

Bangladesh Team List:

ODI Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Mortaza (Vice-Captain), Abdur Razzak, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mahbubul Alam, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-Keeper), Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Syed Rasel, and Tammim Iqbal

Test Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Mortaza (Vice-Captain), Abdur Razzak, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mahbubul Alam, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-Keeper), Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Sajidul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tammim Iqbal

Schedule:

Wed Nov. 05, 2008 - D/N - T20: South Africa v. Bangladesh - Johannesburg

Fri Nov. 07, 2008 - D/N - 1st ODI: South Africa v. Bangladesh - Potchefstroom
Sun Nov. 09, 2008 - Day - 2nd ODI: South Africa v. Bangladesh - Benoni
Wed Nov. 12, 2008 - D/N - 3rd ODI: South Africa v. Bangladesh - East London

Sat Nov. 15-16, 2008 - Day - Practice Game: South African Airways Challenges XI v. Bangladesh - Kimberly

Wed Nov. 19-23, 2008 - 1st Test: South Africa v. Bangladesh - Bloemfontein
Wed Nov. 26-30, 2008 - 2nd Test: South Africa v. Bangladesh - Centurion