BANGALORE, (Reuters) – Half centuries by the South African openers set up a surprisingly easy seven-wicket victory over Australia yesterday in a World Cup warm-up match giving the holders’ skipper Ricky Ponting much food for thought.
In particular, another slump by his middle order will concern Ponting.
Chasing a modest 218 for victory, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith (65 retired) and Hashim Amla (60 retired) survived a barrage of leg before and caught behind appeals by Brett Lee and Shaun Tait early on before settling down to put on 131 runs.
Smith then retired undefeated followed by Amla to give their team mates some batting practice and JP Duminy (47 not out) duly anchored the innings to take his team home inside 45 overs.
Although the match was only a friendly, the result which comes hot on the heels of Australia’s 38-run defeat to World Cup hosts India on Sunday will concern Ponting ahead of the tournament opening on Saturday.
In their innings, Australia made 217 all out with Ponting (55) and Michael Clarke (73) top scoring in a 122-run partnership for the third wicket which at least gave them some time at the crease after the two openers were dismissed with just six runs on the board.
It was 36-year-old Ponting’s second half century of the week.
Clarke, coming off a drop in form, spent some quality time and his gritty knock against the strong South African pace battery should instil some confidence in him.
