Australia vs South Africa 2014 - 3rd ODI: Aaron Finch slams brilliant century to help hosts take 2-1 lead

Aaron Finch

A solid platform laid by centurion Aaron Finch and some late order fireworks by Steve Smith ensured the total of 329/5 that Australia posted was far too many for South Africa to chase down. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc ensured that Australia are yet to lose a game at home defending a 300-plus total. The Aussies now have a 2-1 lead over the Proteas in the best of five ODI series after the third ODI at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

Great start for Australia

Winning the toss on a flat track offering little assistance to the seamers as seen in the first two ODIs at Perth, George Bailey had little hesitation to bat first. The WACA would have seemed a world away to the Proteas bowlers as Finch and Warner went about establishing an opening stand of 118 at close to run a ball. The loss of Warner at 53 did little to dent the Australian scoring as Watson maintained the scoring rate along with Finch.

The platform that the top order had laid was excellently capitalised by Smith and Marsh in particular in the last ten overs of the Australian innings, which went for 88 runs. All South African bowlers took a bit of stick, with Sunday’s hero Morne Morkel going at over eight to the over, and Steyn remaining wicketless. Australia taking the batting Power Play in the 20th over made sure that the Proteas had to rethink their bowling strategies, and without Ryan McLaren in the side, AB de Villiers had to roll his arm over himself to make up some overs.

330 was always going to be a tough chase, but de Kock and Amla seemed to have clicked into form initially in the run chase. The pair, after failing in the first two games, gelled together for an opening stand of 108 before de Kock skied one to short third man in the 19th over of the chase.

South Africa begin chase well

Amla batted himself back into form with wickets falling around him, and surprisingly, even though the required run rate was soaring, de Villiers decided to hold himself back – only making his way to the crease at the departure of Rossouw (2 off 5 balls). De Villiers may have held himself back at five due to Duminy being injured, as he realised an established batsman needs to bat with the tail, but in a run chase in which almost 7 an over is required from the onset, the line up should have been shuffled.

Pairing together with Amla, de Villiers reached his 50 off 32 deliveries as Amla reached his century. At that stage both batsmen were making batting look easy, and the target of 330 quite attainable. De Villiers’ half century filled with audacious shots, like a slog sweep off the bowling of Shane Watson for six over backward square.

The Proteas falter

As Amla and de Villiers looked in control, Hazlewood, Richardson and Starc started finding the right line and lengths. The older balls, made scoring more difficult, and reverse swing came into play as well. Both batsmen were dismissed in close proximity to make the task almost impossible for South Africa. De Villiers was caught plumb in front of middle stump by Richardson, trying to slog one too many.

Amla tried to slog a straighter delivery by Hazlewood to the leg side, giving himself room, but missing the line and subsequently being bowled, all but delivering the last rites on the South African chase. The tail whimpered through till the 45th over, when Behardien was dismissed for 12, ending South Africa’s innings with only nine wickets down as Tahir was absent injured. Australia winners by 73 runs.

With the series poised at 2-1 to Australia, the teams head to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday for the penultimate match, before the series ending match in Sydney on Sunday. With the bigger picture of World Cup spots for individuals, and match practice in Australian conditions for the visitors, there is more than just the series on the line.