Andile Phehlukwayo stars and other takeaways as Proteas beat Australia in first ODI

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  • Andile Phehlukwayo was the star with the ball for South Africa.

    South Africa took the early 1-0 lead in the three-match series as they thumped Australia by six wickets in the first ODI at Perth on Sunday.

    In what was the first encounter between the two old foes since the infamous ball-tampering scandal during the Test series in March, the Proteas bowled out Australia for just 152 runs after skipper Faf du Plessis elected to bowl first.

    In reply, the visitors notched up the target for the loss of four wickets with more than 20 overs to spare.

    As the visitors draw first blood in the ODI series, we take a look at the talking points.

    STEYN SETS THE TONE FOR PROTEAS WITH DOUBLE STRIKE

    On a bouncy Perth pitch with a healthy covering of grass, South Africa’s pace attack of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were in full flow from the start as Australia’s batsmen found the going tough.

    The tone for the match was set by Steyn early on with the veteran pacer extracting every ounce of bounce on offer. In the third over, Steyn had Australia opener Travis Head caught behind by Quinton de Kock as the batsman attempted a drive on the up.

    Just two deliveries later, the Proteas stalwart stuck again with D’Arcy Short edging the ball to Du Plessis at second slip. While Steyn’s initial burst had done the early damage, things went from bad to worse for the hosts when skipper Aaron Finch was pinned lbw by Ngidi. Finch’s early dismissal meant Australia had slumped to 8-3 with the Proteas well and truly on top.

    Steyn was sensational with the new ball.

    Steyn was sensational with the new ball.

    PHEHLUKWAYO’S MEDIUM PACE CAUSES CARNAGE

    While Rabada, Steyn and Ngidi cranked up the heat at Perth with their skill, it was the medium pace of all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo which broke the back of Australia’s batting.

    The dangerous Chris Lynn was the first to fall to Phehlukwayo with De Kock completing a comfortable catch behind the stumps. Glenn Maxwell had got a start but then drove the South Africa medium pacer straight into the hands of Heinrich Klaasen at mid-on.

    Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis then fell the same way in a carbon-copy dismissal to Maxwell’s as Phehlukwayo was gifted a third wicket. His three-wicket burst reduced the Aussies to 66-6, leaving the hosts with too big a mountain to climb.

    Phehlukwayo's medium pace does big damage.

    Phehlukwayo’s medium pace does big damage.

    DE KOCK, HENDRICKS MAKE SHORT WORK OF TARGET

    Despite going in with a strong four-man pace attack comprising Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Coulter-Nile, the Aussies were unable to replicate the effort of South Africa’s quick bowlers.

    A target of 153 was always going to be a difficult one to defend for the hosts and that proved to be the case as South Africa’s openers made a commanding start.

    De Kock and Reeza Hendricks added 94 runs for the opening wicket with the former playing the role of the primary aggressor while the latter took a back seat.

    De Kock was dismissed three runs shy of a half-century after a quick-fire 40-ball 47 which included seven hits to the fence. Hendricks, on the other hand, made a 74-ball 44 before he was dismissed by Stoinis.

    By the time the duo departed from the crease, the bulk of the target had already been notched up as the Proteas eventually cruised to a comfortable win.

    Australia's pace battery did not have its way.

    Australia’s pace battery did not have its way.

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