Aussies beat Proteas

MELBOURNE – A superb half-century from JP Duminy was not enough to prevent South Africa from being bowled out for 130 to complete a 52-run victory for Australia in the first Twenty20 international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

Duminy (78, 48 balls, 9×4, 1×6) was the only batsman to stand firm as South Africa slipped to 12 for three with Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers all back in the pavilion inside three overs.
Duminy found a willing partner in the form of debutant Vaughn van Jaarsveld (12) and the pair added 53 runs for the fourth wicket before Van Jaarsveld pulled a delivery from medium pacer James Hopes straight to Cameron White at mid-wicket.
Duminy continued to fight on and he pulled off an audacious shot off Shaun Tait when he flicked a yorker from the fast bowler over fine-leg for the only six of the South African innings.
Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel came and went for the South Africans before Duminy finally lost his battle against the Australian bowlers.
The left-handed Duminy, who had brought up his 50 off 31 balls, attempted a reverse-sweep off the bowling of off spinner David Hussey only to miss the ball and be dismissed lbw.
Duminy’s departure signalled the end of South Africa’s challenge and they lost their last three wickets for the addition of seven runs to be all-out with two overs of their innings left.
David Hussey finished with figures of three for 25 off his four overs while Tait, Ben Hilfenhaus and left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken collected two wickets each.
Earlier, David Warner scored a stunning half-century on debut to help Australia post 182 for nine
Opening batsman Warner, who has yet to play a first class match, scored 89 off 43 balls with seven fours and six sixes before he was caught at long-on by AB de Villiers off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini.
Warner shared in a 59-run partnership with Ricky Ponting (21) for the second wicket followed by a 43-run partnership with David Hussey (19) for the third wicket before South Africa’s bowlers found their way back into the match.
David Hussey and Warner both fell with Australia’s score on 140 and the home-side proceeded to lose seven wickets for the addition of 42 runs.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn finished with three for 38 which included taking two wickets in the last over of the innings.
Left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe picked up a wicket on debut when he had opening batsman Shaun Marsh caught by a diving Albie Morkel at short fine-leg. – Supersport