The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : A stroll in the park for the Australians

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

A stroll in the park for the Australians

MELBOURNE : Andrew Symonds combined with Mike Hussey to plunder 109 from 76 balls before Brett Lee snared four for 30 to propel Australia to an 80-run win over South Africa in Friday's tri-series limited-overs cricket international.

Symonds stroked 65 from 60 balls and Hussey clobbered 62 from 44 as Australia reached 281 for seven, including 60 runs off the last 24 balls. In reply, South Africa was 201 for nine after 50 overs.

Australia and South Africa meet again on Sunday, with the Africans needing a win to secure a place in the finals ahead of the last round-robin match against Sri Lanka.

The Australians ensured top place with 23 points, 11 clear of South Africa and 14 clear of Sri Lanka with only two matches remaining before the best-of-three finals series.

Symonds and Hussey partnered with Australia at 167 for five in the 37th over and boosted the total to 276 before both were out within four deliveries.

Hussey, who hit Johan van der Wath for four consecutive boundaries in the 48th over, was bowled by the South African paceman four balls from the end.

Symonds was run out attempting a single off the last ball, his 60-ball knock containing five fours and a giant driven six.

Bad start

South Africa had a major setback on the second ball of its innings when skipper Graeme Smith was adjudged lbw to a Lee full toss before he'd scored.

Super-sub Johan Botha, who was elevated to No. 5 in the order, top-scored with 46 although the South Africans gave up the chase and were determined to bat out the overs.

Lee ended South Africa's hopes when he removed Justin Kemp (20), Mark Boucher (0) and Botha in the 39th over.

The Australian bowling attack was missing pace spearhead Glenn McGrath, who withdrew on Friday morning citing personal reasons. He later released a statement through Cricket Australia saying his wife, Jane, had a recurrence of cancer and would need treatment next week.

The world's leading fast bowler is in doubt for the rest of the tri-series and for Australia's tour to South Africa, starting later this month.

Lee, who was supposed to be rested for the Melbourne match, got a late recall to replace McGrath.

Murali in trouble

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will face an ``unofficial reprimand'' after responding to crowd taunts in Perth with a single-finger gesture, officials said on Friday.

A statement released by Cricket Australia on behalf of International Cricket Council match referee Jeff Crowe, said the matter would be discussed with Muralitharan in Hobart next week.

Muralitharan was photographed making the gesture towards a man in the crowd at Sri Lanka's match in Perth last Tuesday. — Agencies

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