Tri-Series 2016, Match 4 Review: David Warner powers Aussies to victory

David Warner smashed a masterly 109 as the Australians got the redemption they were hoping for with a 36-run win over the South Africans. Warner was well supported by southpaw Usman Khawaja as well as Steven Smith who notched up valiant half-centuries while the returning Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood made the ball do the talking as the Aussies cruised to a win and to the top of the table.

Australia won the toss and opted to bat first on a decent looking St. Kitts wicket. The quest of setting a big total began in an awry manner as Aaron Finch was dismissed on the completion of the 10th over. Finch’s dismissal saw Imran Tahir inch closer to 100 ODI wickets. Usman Khawaja entered the fray and began scoring rather freely. The left-handed duo of Warner and Khawaja soon brought up a 100-run partnership, the first in this edition of the Tri-Series. Warner soon reached yet another ODI ton as the Aussies looked poised to smash a massive total.

However, the drinks break had its effect as Warner was dismissed by Wayne Parnell in the very first delivery after the interval. George Bailey also failed to make his opportunity count as he was snapped up by Imran Tahir. Mitchell Marsh also made little or no impact as the hard-working Kyle Abbott picked up his wicket. Thus, the onus fell on the shoulders of Matthew Wade and skipper Steve Smith to take the Aussies to a good total.

While Wade rotated the strike with the poise and control that he usually does, Steve Smith smashed the ball to different parts, thereby bringing up his well-deserved half-century. Despite losing his wicket at the fag end of the innings, Matthew Wade’s amazing contribution saw the Australians reach a massive score of 288 in their 50 overs.

Quite similar to the Australian innings, the South African innings began with a wicket in the powerplay. Quinton de Kock’s failure to launch saw him dismissed for a valiant 19 by Josh Hazelwood. With Rilee Rossouw out of action with a shoulder injury, Faf du Plessis joined Hashim Amla in the middle to do battle with a vicious Australian pace attack.

With both du Plessis and Amla playing with caution initially, it wasn’t before long that the duo began to cut loose. They reached their respective half-centuries and also went on to add an invaluable 105 runs for the second wicket. However, disaster struck when a perfectly timed shot from Hashim Amla found its way straight to Steve Smith at cover. Du Plessis was dismissed a few minutes later for 63 as Mitchell Starc picked up yet another wicket.

AB de Villiers and JP Duminy added some valuable runs, scoring 39 and 41 runs respectively as the Proteas inched closer to victory. However, Hazelwood breached the defenses of de Villiers as Adam Zampa snapped up JP Duminy as the pendulum shifted back into the favor of the Australians. The last five South African wickets fell as the South Africans were blasted out for 252, thus handing the Aussies with a much needed 36-run win.

David Warner was named as the undisputed man-of-the match courtesy of his impressive 109.

Brief Scores

Australia 288/6 in 50 overs (D Warner 109; I Tahir 2/45)

South Africa 252 all out in 47.4 overs (F du Plessis 63; M Starc 3/43)

Man of the match: David Warner