AUSTRALIA CLINCH TRI SERIES

Australia A won the closely contested Coca Cola Tri series final against South Africa A yesterday in Harare. A high powered 206 run first wicket partnership ensured they prevailed over their opponents by six wickets.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, posting a total of 294 runs for the loss of five wickets. The opening pair of David Warner and Test specialist Phillip Hughes made sure the innings had a healthy backbone as it posted a total 206 runs. Hughes top scored with 138 runs after facing the same number of deliveries before he was bowled by Veron Philander while Warner fell to Reolof van De Merwe for 120 runs off 127 deliveries.

John Hastings was promoted up the ladder but that move however back fired as he also fell victim to Van De Merwe for just two runs so did Mitch Marsh who managed only five runs. Aaron Finch managed to score twenty runs off thirteen deliveries with Tim Paine and Luke Butterworth remaining not out to conclude the Australian Innings.

Van De Merwe was the pick of the South African bowlers with figures of three for 58 while Rusty Theron and Philander picked up a wicket each.

Jacques Rudolph started the proceedings for the South Africans with a well crafted 90 runs off 97 balls while his opening partner Jonathan Vandiar only made 16 runs. The top order failed to put a meaningful score with Rudolph running out of partners, Vaughn van Jaarsveld came in at five and provided the much needed stability in the middle of the Proteas batting order. Their fifth wicket partnership yielded 53 runs, just as they were starting to trouble the Australian attack Marsh provided the breakthrough at the 25^th over.

The South African lower order did not do much to trouble the scorers. Notable scores came from Philander who made 22 runs off 35 deliveries while Roory Kleinveldt provided what was arguably the furthest six of the tournament off the bowling off Marsh eventually making 32 runs off just 19 deliveries. The match was pretty much concluded here with Theron and Alexandra failing to take the series home with just seven runs required.  

The bowling was topped by all rounder Marsh who retained figures of four wickets for 56 runs with Lyon picking up three scalps for 55 runs. Lyon was named the man of the series after he picked up a total of eleven wickets for 183 runs in five matches while Rudolph was the top run scorer. 




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