South Africa struck back with a vengeance in the second one-day international against Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday, levelling the series with a three-wicket win. Proteas skipper AB de Villiers had vowed his side would be seeking redemption after being beaten by 32 runs in the series opener on Friday.
His team backed those words with a superb bowling display as the home side were dismissed for just 154 in 41.4 overs on what appeared a good batting wicket.
South Africa overcame some anxious moments and reckless batting to edge to the victory target, reaching 157 for seven in just 27.4 overs.
Paceman Josh Hazlewood was one bright light for the Australians, with career-best figures of 5-31.
Towering paceman Morne Morkel led the way for South Africa with 5-21, his second five-wicket haul in one-day internationals and career-best figures in a man-of-the-match performance.
Morkel said the South Africans were much better with the ball on Sunday, after conceding 300 runs on Friday. "We put them under pressure more today," he said.
By contrast, stand-in Australian captain George Bailey was less than impressed with his side's batting. "There were probably not that many dismissals where guys would say that ball was too good, but it was a culmination of South Africa building pressure and our batters exploding a bit," Bailey said.
The South Africans made an impact with the ball from the outset, destroying the Australian top order to have the home side in deep trouble at 34-4.
It was Morkel who struck the first blow with David Warner caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck. Warner was initially given not out, but replays showed clear contact with the glove and Nigel Llong overturned the initial decision.
Scoreboard
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Australia
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D. Warner c de Kock b Morkel 0
A. Finch c Morkel b Steyn 8
S. Watson lbw Behardien 11
S. Smith c Tahir b Morkel 10
G. Bailey c du Plessis b Philander 25
M. Marsh c Morkel b Steyn 67
M. Wade c de Kock b Morkel 19
G. Maxwell b Morkel 0
M. Johnson c de Kock b Morkel 3
N. Coulter-Nile c du Plessis b Steyn 2
J. Hazlewood not out 0
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Extras: (lb5, w4) 9
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Total: (all out; 41.4 overs) 154
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Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Warner), 2-14 (Finch), 3-27 (Watson), 4-34 (Smith), 5-92 (Bailey), 6-125 (Wade), 7-125 (Maxwell), 8-129 (Johnson), 9-138 (Coulter-Nile), 10-154 (Marsh).
Bowling: M. Morkel 8-0-21-5 (2w), V. Philander 9-2-16-1, D. Steyn 7.4-1-35-3 (1w), F. Behardien 8-0-40-1 (1w), I. Tahir 9-0-37-0.
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South Africa
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Q. de Kock c Watson b Hazlewood 4
H. Amla c Wade b Johnson 10
F. du Plessis c Wade b Hazlewood 19
R. Rossouw c Smith b Maxwell 30
AB de Villiers c Wade b Hazlewood 48
F. Behardien c Warner b Hazlewood 0
D. Miller not out 22
V. Philander c Johnson b Hazlewood 0
D. Steyn not out 4
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Extras: (lb1, w19) 20
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Total: (7 wkts; 27.4 overs) 157
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Fall of wickets: 1-6 (de Kock), 2-21 (Amla), 3-64 (Rossouw), 4-113 (du Plessis), 5-113 (Behardien), 6-141 (de Villiers), 7-153 (Philander).
Bowling: M. Johnson 8-1-47-1, J. Hazlewood 9.4-2-31-5, N. Coulter-Nile 6-0-54-0, M. Marsh 1-0-4-0, G. Maxwell 3-0-20-1.
Result: South Africa wins by three wickets
Series: Level 1-1
Toss: Australia
Umpires: John Ward (AUS) and Brent Bowden (NZL)
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).
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