Despite David Warner's brilliant 173, hosts South Africa secure clean sweep over Australia with 31-run win in fifth and final one-dayer at Newlands
David Warner
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Cape Town: South Africa secured a first-ever 5-0 one-day international series whitewash of Australia with a 31-run victory. Man of the series Rilee Rossouw struck a 118-ball 122 to lead the Proteas to an imposing 327 for eight and despite a brilliant 173 from David Warner, Australia yet again fell short.
South Africa's innings was built around a 178-run partnership between Rossouw and JP Duminy (73) and Warner lacked any real support in the tourists' chase. Joe Mennie was recalled to the Australian attack in place of the rested John Hastings and after Quinton de Kock (12) chipped Scott Boland to Mitchell Marsh at short cover, Mennie got one to straighten and bowl Hashim Amla for 25.
The SA team celebrate their ODI series win over Australia in Cape Town on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images
And soon after, Mennie picked up another wicket when South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was beaten on the drive and bowled for 11. Rossouw and Duminy then regrouped and the inexperience of the Australian attack was evident as they failed to apply pressure on the Proteas batsmen and they scored freely.
Mitchell Marsh came in for some heavy punishment and did not help himself by delivering two full tosses in his opening over while Rossouw also struck the first six in the innings off him, striding down the pitch and lofting him over long on. With Rossouw's fifty coming at a run a ball and Duminy reaching the milestone off 47 deliveries, it looked as if the hosts would go on to score in excess of 350.
Anxious moment
But, with Rossouw on 99, Duminy was anxious to get him on strike to complete his century and carved Mennie to George Bailey at backward point for 73. Rossouw reach his hundred off 100 balls with 11 fours and two sixes before eventually holding out with five overs to go, slogging across the line and finding the hands of Marsh at long-off.
David Miller then marshalled the tail to take 46 off the final five overs to give Australia a tough target. Warner was lucky not to fall for 11 when Kagiso Rabada found the outside edge of his bat but wicketkeeper De Kock dived across Hashim Amla and slip and spilled the chance - and Warner took advantage of the reprieve.
Tahir creates havoc
Imran Tahir came into the attack and the bowling change paid immediate dividends with two wickets in his opening over as Finch (19) was bowled playing back to a flipper before Steve Smith missed a straight ball to be bowled for a duck.
Warner brought up his fifty off 44 balls but soon after Bailey edged Andile Phehlukwayo into his own stumps for two and after an opening stand of 72, Australia had lost three wickets for three runs. Warner and Marsh were forced to regroup and Marsh launched Rabada for two sixes in an over but was then bowled by the South Africa paceman.
Warner brought up his hundred off 88 balls and put on 90 for the fifth wicket with Travis Head to take Australia into the final 10 overs needing 99. Australia needed 41 from the final three overs but any chance of victory disappeared when Warner was run out attempting a second run to Tahir.
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