Impressive Australia Take Series-Opening Win

Impressive Australia Take Series-Opening Win

Ricky Ponting top scored with 63 as Australia scored a 93-run win over South Africa at Centurion Park

©REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 183-4 (Ponting 63) beat
South Africa 129 (Johnson 3-20) by 93 runs
First One-Day International, Centurion Park
Scorecard

Australia won a rain-affected first One-Day International against South Africa by 93 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method at Centurion Park.

Following a prolonged break due to a heavy rain shower the match was reduced to 29 overs per side and after Australia reached 183 for four, South Africa were bowled out for 129 in reply having been set a revised target of 223 to win.

Ricky Ponting  was the mainstay of Australia's innings, hitting 63 and earning the man-of-the-match award while Mitchell Johnson and Patrick Cummins both took three wickets.

Cummins and Mitchell Marsh made their debuts and in the absence of Shane Watson through injury, Ponting opened the batting and made a solid half-century, hitting nine fours either side of the rain break.

Michael Clarke (44) and Michael Hussey (30 not out) made useful contributions with Hussey slamming three fours and a six in his 21-ball innings.

Dale Steyn returned two for 48 and Jacques Kallis one for 35 for the home side.

Doug Bollinger trapped Graeme Smith (4) leg before then Cummins (3-28) and Johnson (3-30) got stuck into the Proteas' middle order.

Cummins removed Kallis for 15 and JP Duminy for four while Johnson ended Francois du Plessis' breezy effort of 27 in 20 balls to knock the South Africans off course.

Captain Hashim Amla was caught by Brad Haddin off Marsh for 24 before left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty chipped in with the wickets of David Miller (11) and Mark Boucher (1).

Johan Botha was South Africa's last hope, but he could only make 25 before he was out - hit wicket - to Cummins which cleared the path for Johnson to end the innings with the wickets of Steyn (5) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (4) as South Africa lasted just 22 overs.

Doherty's six overs earned him figures of two for 33 while Bollinger (1-28) and Marsh (1-19) were also impressive.

The second game in the three-match series is on 23rd October in Port Elizabeth.

© Cricket World 2011