 South Africa defeated Australia in the second warm-up game for both the sides before the start of the World Cup 2011. This was Australia's second successive loss while South Africa won their second consecutive game. South Africa won by seven wickets and with many overs to spare.
Unlike the last game, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. It was
a decision based on the fact that the track would have assisted spin bowling
and that would have caused problems for them in the same manner as it had last
time against India.
However, the Aussies batted very poorly and were bowled out cheaply. It started
with the dismissals of both their openers for a duck each, Shane Watson and
Brad Haddin. They were then helped through a third wicket partnership
of more than 100 by the pair of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke
and at that stage, it did look like they would be able to make a comeback to
the game.
Ponting got to his second successive half century whereas Clarke overcame his
failures in the last game to be able to post his 50 as well. However, once Ponting
was dismissed, the rest of the wickets fell in quick succession. The Aussies
lost eight wickets for 89 to follow up their 9/ 58 in their last game and were
bowled out for 217 in the end.
Unfortunately for the Aussies, unlike the Indians, their spin attack isn't
as strong. And so, expecting the South Africans to collapse while chasing down
such a paltry total was never on. South Africa added 131 for the first wicket
through Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla - both scoring 60s - before the
two batsmen decided to retire in order to allow the others some batting practice.
Faff du Plessis was dismissed run-out for 12 but JP Duminy and AB de Villiers
saw the side through to an easy win.
The two teams will now begin with their respective World Cup games. South Africa
play their first match against the West Indies at Delhi on February 24. Australia,
on the other hand, have an easier start to their campaign as they play Zimbabwe
on February 21 at Ahmedabad. Fortunately for the Aussies, the track at Ahmedabad
will be much easier to bat on as compared to the ones at Bangalore and one can
expect them to go all out attacking against the minnows Zimbabwe.
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