Wednesday 5 November 2014

Rossouw, bowlers star in SA win, Australia v South Africa, 1st Twenty20, Adelaide

South Africa 3 for 145 (Roussouw 78, de Kock 46) beat Australia 6 for 144 (Watson 47, Faulkner 41*, Abbott 3-21) by seven wickets

Kyle Abbott harried Australia's batsmen and Rilee Rossouw achieved the rare feat of putting Quinton de Kock in the shade during a stand of 129 as South Africa secured a vast opening win in the Twenty20 match at Adelaide Oval.

Three days after they were comfortably beaten by a Cricket Australia Invitational XI in Sydney, the tourists combined impressively with ball and bat to deliver Australia's third consecutive international defeat, albeit against two distinctly different teams in two vastly different formats on opposite sides of the globe.

The likes of David Warner, Mitchell Johnson and Glenn Maxwell were missed by the Australians, but it must also be acknowledged that Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers were among South Africa's absentees. Abbott and Rossouw were highly capable substitutes, the former's 3 for 21 and the latter's 78 from 50 balls the most telling contributions for JP Duminy's men.

Reeza Hendricks was out to a well-pitched delivery from Doug Bollinger in the first over of South Africa's chase, but Rossouw and de Kock had very few difficulties in rattling towards the target and ensuring that by the time they departed the asking rate was negligible

Duminy: 'Losing a wicket in the first over, you feel 145 is a long way. But they played positively. Not much thinking goes on, it is about playing well. The execution was unbelievable today, the guys dug in their yorkers pretty well. Hopefully, we can put another good performance, come Friday.'
Finch: 'It was pretty disappointing with the bat. We summed up the wicket quickly. Me and Cameron got off to a good start and then I got out. They(South Africa) were very well drilled. They nailed their yorkers pretty well. The way we fought with the ball was impressive.'
Rilee Rossouw: 'My first couple of games for South Africa were not great. Fortunately, this was my night. You got to be on top of your game and capitalize. Me and him (de Kock) are very similar. It is very nice playing with de Kock. It takes pressure off your shoulders.'
Rilee Rossouw is the Man of the Match for his 50-ball 78.
While Bollinger was on the money upfront, the other bowlers lacked discipline.
So, an emphatic win for South Africa. After the bowlers stifled the Aussies, Rossouw and Qdk led the chase with a breezy 129-run union. Rossouw was the chief aggressor with Qdk happy to play second fiddle. Though both fell at the doorstep of victory, it hardly belittled South Africa's all-round display.

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