PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, (Reuters) – Herschelle Gibbs hit a sparkling century and Dale Steyn took four wickets to lift South Africa to a series-clinching 61-run win over Australia in the fourth one-dayer yesterday.
The hosts clinched the series 3-1with Gibbs smashing 110 and AB de Villiers 84 in a commanding total of 317 for six.
Australia started well with an opening stand of 129 in 127 balls between Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke but they lost their way against the spinners and were bowled out for 256 in the 46th over.
Haddin and Clarke began the Australian chase with a flurry of runs but the introduction of spin changed the course of the innings.
Haddin targeted Johan Botha and took 14 runs off his first over on the way to a 41-ball half-century but the off-spinner had his revenge when he had Haddin caught at long-on by Wayne Parnell for 78.
Roelof van der Merwe, playing just his third one-dayer, claimed three wickets as the required run-rate soared. Clarke was bowled for 50, Callum Ferguson stumped by Mark Boucher for three and Michael Hussey trapped lbw for two.
Australia were 151 for four and captain Ricky Ponting meandered through to the 41st over, scoring 37 off 61 balls without reaching the boundary.
BATTING POWERPLAY
He called for the batting powerplay and hammered Steyn for four boundaries in the first five balls before the South Africa fast bowler had him caught off a bouncer for 53.
South Africa’s most dangerous bowler also used a threatening lifter to dismiss David Hussey caught-and-bowled for 20.
James Hopes scored 31 at better than a run-a-ball but he fell to Parnell and Steyn finished with four for 44 as he wrapped up the tail, comprehensively bowling Nathan Hauritz and Shane Harwood in the last over.
Earlier, Gibbs was out in the 39th over for 110 off 116 balls as he laid the platform for South Africa to post a daunting total.
Gibbs and De Villiers combined for a third-wicket stand of 136 off 123 balls. Gibbs hit nine fours and two sixes and De Villiers six fours and three sixes.
The loss of Gibbs, Albie Morkel (4) and De Villiers in the space of four overs left South Africa on 252 for five but Boucher and JP Duminy added 65 runs off 45 balls for the sixth wicket.
The final match of the series is in Johannesburg on Friday.
