Smith guides the Proteas to 4-201
Source -
news.com.au
Graeme Smith served notice to Australia he was back in form by smashing an unbeaten 89 to guide South Africa to 4-201 in the Twenty20 international at Wanderers Stadium overnight.
Graeme Smith served notice to Australia he was back in form by smashing an unbeaten 89 to guide South Africa to 4-201 in the Twenty20 international at Wanderers Stadium overnight.
Smith faced just 58 balls and hit 11 fours and one six, sharing a second-wicket partnership of 111 with Herschelle Gibbs who made 56 off 34 balls.
Debutant opener Loots Bosman (23) began brightly but was bowled by Mick Lewis with the score on 48.
Gibbs was dropped at long-off by Lewis and hit the next two balls from Brad Hogg for sixes to register his half-century with spinner Hogg going for 38 from his two overs.
But Lewis hit back in the next over to remove Gibbs at 2-159 and Shane Watson claimed Shaun Pollock (2) at 3-170.
Smith hit Nathan Bracken (1-44) to the boundary from the final ball of the innings and punched the air with delight after taking his side over the 200 mark.
It was a welcome return to form for the tough-talking skipper who failed to reach 50 in one-dayers or Tests against Australia in South Africa's just-completed tour.
The intimidating Wanderers Stadium, known as The Bullring, was sold out with 32,000 fans although some left when rain delayed the start by two hours.
Fans were entertained by cheerleaders in skimpy blue uniforms.
When the Australian players emerged from their change rooms shortly before the start of play, dozens of fans lined the perspex tunnel dugout to shout abuse at the touring team and bang on the walls.
Australia's five-match one-day series against South Africa starts on Sunday at Centurion.
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