Harris, Steyn bowl SA to consolation win

Posted by on Mar 22, 2009 in Cricket

South Africa have won the third and final Test at Newlands, Cape Town by an innings and 20 runs. However the Aussies won the 3-Test Series 2-1. Well this final match was wrapped up inside four days with the Aussies pushed on the backfoot since their dismal first innings show on Day 1. Resuming the fourth day’s play at 102/2, the visitors put up more than a decent fight by scoring 422 in their second innings and almost avoiding an innings defeat.

It was Mitchell Johnson again who proved his all-round abilities, this time by scoring 123 (from just 103 balls with 11 fours and 5 sixes), he became the highest scorer of the innings by a long margin. Mitchell Johnson was rewarded with the Player of the Series award. The second highest scorer of the Australian second innings was Andrew McDonald who chipped in with 68 while Michael Clarke scored 47. Overnight batsman Simon Katich could end up with just 54.

For the South Africans, it was once again the pair of Dale Steyn (3 for 96 in 27 overs) and Paul Harris (6 for 127 in 42.5 overs) that did the damage in the second innings. Paul Harris was named the Man of the Match as he took a total of 9 wickets in the game.

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