Ricky Ponting in losing mode again as Aussies suffer from...
|
|
WHAT A BLAST! South African batsman Albie Morkel. |
Ricky Ponting in losing mode again as Aussies suffer from...Australia captain Ricky Ponting was left to reflect on what might have been after his side were on the wrong end of a remarkable Albie Morkel-inspired comeback by South Africa in the opening one-day international at the MCG.
The Proteas capitalised on a well-chosen batting powerplay to plunder 18 runs off the 48th over, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus, to steal a remarkable victory with three balls to spare.
Morkel was the star of the show for the tourists, hitting a match-winning 40 off only 18 balls as the Proteas found the 50 runs they needed from the final five overs to pass Australia's total of 271 and claim a three-wicket win.
Aided by the late powerplay, Morkel and captain Johan Botha carved a match-winning 51-run stand off only 35 balls.
"I've played only a couple of state games where we've used the (powerplay) rule in this way," Ponting told Sky Sports 1. "I don't think I've seen any team use it in the last five overs.
As it went on it was getting pretty evident they were going to use it around the same time as us but then they lost a couple of wickets. They held it back and Morkel, 40 off 18 balls, it was enough to get them over the line."
Botha, who supported Morkel's late blitz with 12 runs of his own, revealed the tourists had hoped to use their powerplay earlier, and would have done so but for a middle order slump that saw them lose four wickets for eight runs in less than three overs to slip to 221 for seven.
"We tried to leave it (the powerplay) as late as possible with wickets in hand, but we kept losing wickets around the 40th over, and when I got in I told Albie 'we've got to take it now'," Botha said.
Man of the match Morkel said he was delighted his knock, which included four fours and one six, had been the cornerstone of a remarkable fightback.
"It's nice for us, being down in the 220s, to come back and win this match, it is good for the team. "I'm just happy that I scored a few runs today."
