South Africa prove Abbott much for Australia

Hosts claim simple six-wicket win to go 4-0 up in five-match series

PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa secured a fourth successive ODI victory over Australia as captain Faf du Plessis top-scored with 69 runs and pacer Kyle Abbott claimed 4-40 in a six-wicket win yesterday.

Australia were bowled out for 167 in just 36.4 overs, leaving South Africa with a modest target to chase. They did so successfully, reaching 168 in 35.3 overs.

In the three previous ODIs, South Africa’s batsmen dominated the inexperienced Australian attack but it was their bowlers who took centre stage yesterday. Abbott bowled both Aaron Finch and David Warner and finished with 4-40 in his first game of the series.



Wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, making his home debut, took 3-36 as six Australians were dismissed leg before wicket, equalling the record number of lbw dismissals in an ODI innings.

In reply, South Africa were two wickets down for 29 runs before Du Plessis and JP Duminy steadied the ship and set them on course for a potential clean-sweep of the series.



Rilee Rossouw finished 33 not out, thrashing the winning runs through the covers.  

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2016.

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