Hussey and White blitz take Australia home by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

South Africa in Australia 2008/09

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DateLine: 13th January 2009

 

Late blitz gave Australia a comprehensive win over South Africa in the second and final T20 match and with it the series. Superb half-century from Hussey, back in some form, was the key to this chase. Australia bowled well to keep South Africa to under 160, and chased it down comfortably in the end. The openers didn't click, and the run rate had reached a tizzy at one stage. Then Hussey and Ponting formed a partnership, only for two wickets to fall in relative succession. But Hussey kept his cool and found a confident ally in White, and the duo finished the match. A lot of stunning hits in their 69-run stand in just 5.5 overs, but each enjoyed reprieves from the South African fielders.

 

Earlier in the South African innings Herschelle Gibbs found life uncomfortable on the bouncy pitch and he struggled to 6 before swiping Hopes to Michael Hussey at deep square leg. South Africa had relied on Amla during the 35-run stand that was ended in the sixth over. Hashim Amla had some bright flashes, slicing Tait over third man for six and flicking Ben Hilfenhaus for four, but as he tried to pull Hilfenhaus could only find Cameron White at midwicket and departed with 26 from 26 balls. South Africa's situation worsened in the next over when Vaughn van Jaarsveld was lbw to David Hussey. Duminy and Mark Boucher put on 49 before Boucher miscued Hopes and Tait collected the catch at point.

 

After failing to ignite early, they relied on Duminy, who picked up seven boundaries and two sixes. Duminy's acceleration started with a glance for four off Tait and in the next over he whipped James Hopes for six behind square leg, giving the visitors a much needed push.

 

Marsh and Warner found the going tough as the South African bowlers kept a tight leash over them. Botha opened the bowling with Steyn partnering him. Botha's imaginative captaincy was there to be seen as he shuffled the bowlers around and also with his clever field placing. By the end of the Powerplay, Australia had lost their openers and faced an uphill task.

 

Ponting and Hussey played sensibly to put the chase back on track. However, the 61-run stand between Ricky Ponting and Hussey ended when Ponting was run out by Morne Morkel's smart under-arm which curtailed Ponting's innings at a crucial time. David Hussey departed in the same over as Ponting when he was the victim of a stunning running take from Duminy at long-off and the home side worried at 4 for 92 after 13 overs.

 

Duminy misjudged a catch in the same position off Cameron White when he was 9 and the ball went for four. The mistake grew worse when boundaries also came from Parnell's next three balls to thrust Australia to the verge of victory. White finished the job with a six over long-on to seal the win with seven balls to spare. His 40 came from 18 deliveries during a match-winning partnership of 69 with Hussey.