4th ODI: Smith smashes second ODI ton in Australia’s win
Hosts secure series 3-1 with three-wicket win against South Africa
MELBOURNE:
Steve Smith hit a thrilling century to propel Australia to a three-wicket victory over South Africa to clinch the five-game ODI series in Melbourne on Friday.
Man-of-the-match Smith cracked 104 off 112 balls as Australia stormed home to overhaul South Africa's 267-8 to win with an over to spare.
The victory wrapped up the ODI series 3-1 over the Proteas ahead of Sunday's final game in Sydney.
The Proteas looked in control for most of Australia's innings, reducing the home side to 98-5 in the 25th over, before Smith turned the tide with a ground record 121-run sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Matt Wade.
As Smith and Wade accelerated the scoring rate the South African bowling and fielding became ragged under pressure and in the end the Australians were an irresistible force surging to victory.
When Wade was brilliantly caught in the outfield by a diving Ryan McLaren for 52 off 94 balls, James Faulkner came in and took up where Wade left off slamming an unbeaten 34 off 31 balls with six fours.
"I was lucky enough to have some good partners out there," said Smith while praising the contributions of Wade and Faulkner. "It made it a lot easier. I feel like I'm hitting the ball really well, I'm playing each ball on its merits. It's another series win for us, which is great."
Compounding South Africa's woes was an apparent rib injury for skipper AB de Villiers, who suffered the injury while fielding and looked in discomfort.
De Villiers hit a masterful 91 before South Africa's innings stalled and finished at 267-8 batting first after winning the toss.
South Africa had previously never lost an ODI against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a perfect 6-0 record dating back to 1993.
Steve Smith hit a thrilling century to propel Australia to a three-wicket victory over South Africa to clinch the five-game ODI series in Melbourne on Friday.
Man-of-the-match Smith cracked 104 off 112 balls as Australia stormed home to overhaul South Africa's 267-8 to win with an over to spare.
The victory wrapped up the ODI series 3-1 over the Proteas ahead of Sunday's final game in Sydney.
The Proteas looked in control for most of Australia's innings, reducing the home side to 98-5 in the 25th over, before Smith turned the tide with a ground record 121-run sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Matt Wade.
As Smith and Wade accelerated the scoring rate the South African bowling and fielding became ragged under pressure and in the end the Australians were an irresistible force surging to victory.
When Wade was brilliantly caught in the outfield by a diving Ryan McLaren for 52 off 94 balls, James Faulkner came in and took up where Wade left off slamming an unbeaten 34 off 31 balls with six fours.
"I was lucky enough to have some good partners out there," said Smith while praising the contributions of Wade and Faulkner. "It made it a lot easier. I feel like I'm hitting the ball really well, I'm playing each ball on its merits. It's another series win for us, which is great."
Compounding South Africa's woes was an apparent rib injury for skipper AB de Villiers, who suffered the injury while fielding and looked in discomfort.
De Villiers hit a masterful 91 before South Africa's innings stalled and finished at 267-8 batting first after winning the toss.
South Africa had previously never lost an ODI against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a perfect 6-0 record dating back to 1993.