Oz bowlers set up series-levelling win
8 Nov 2014 11:37 PM GMT
James Faulkner was the pick of Australia’s fast bowlers as his three wickets helped the hosts to a comfortable victory over South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday to level the three-match Twenty20 series.
South Africa, who took the first match in Sydney by seven wickets on Wednesday, won the toss and opted to bat but were restricted to a paltry 101/7 on the MCG pitch, which was offering steep bounce for the bowlers.
Captain Aaron Finch smashed an unbeaten 44 from 30 balls and added 43 for the opening stand with Ben Dunk (23) as Australia chased down the target in the 13th over, losing only three wickets.
Allrounder Shane Watson, who made 47 in the first match, continued his good form with the bat after his return from a long injury layoff. Watson hit five boundaries, four of them in an over against medium-pacer Ryan McLaren, in his 23-ball 30 and added 49 for the second wicket with Finch.
Earlier, Faulkner led a strong bowling effort with figures of 3/25 from his four overs. Fellow pacemen Doug Bollinger and Pat Cummins, who bowled a rare maiden over, took a wicket each, while legspinner Cameron Boyce also picked up two for 15 in a rounded effort.
BRIEFSCORES Australia 3 for 102 (Finch 44*, Parnell 2-17) beat South Africa 7 for 101 (Duminy 49, James Faulkner 3-25, Boyce 2-15) by seven wickets.
South Africa, who took the first match in Sydney by seven wickets on Wednesday, won the toss and opted to bat but were restricted to a paltry 101/7 on the MCG pitch, which was offering steep bounce for the bowlers.
Captain Aaron Finch smashed an unbeaten 44 from 30 balls and added 43 for the opening stand with Ben Dunk (23) as Australia chased down the target in the 13th over, losing only three wickets.
Allrounder Shane Watson, who made 47 in the first match, continued his good form with the bat after his return from a long injury layoff. Watson hit five boundaries, four of them in an over against medium-pacer Ryan McLaren, in his 23-ball 30 and added 49 for the second wicket with Finch.
Earlier, Faulkner led a strong bowling effort with figures of 3/25 from his four overs. Fellow pacemen Doug Bollinger and Pat Cummins, who bowled a rare maiden over, took a wicket each, while legspinner Cameron Boyce also picked up two for 15 in a rounded effort.
BRIEFSCORES Australia 3 for 102 (Finch 44*, Parnell 2-17) beat South Africa 7 for 101 (Duminy 49, James Faulkner 3-25, Boyce 2-15) by seven wickets.
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