Australia remained consistent with their choices as they chose to bat yet again after winning the toss. A mammoth double century opening partnership between David Warner and Philip Hughes set the final alight. Warner was the first to go in the 38th over when Roland van der Merwe had him caught behind for 120 runs from 127 balls; his innings featured 10 fours and three sixes. Philip Hughes top scored for the match and the series and with a run-a-ball 138 which featured nine boundaries.
Van der Merwe did a splendid job claiming two more wickets and was responsible for the Australian middle order’s collapse. Despite taking a bit of a tap he was the pick of the South Africa A bowlers finishing with figures of three for 58 runs from his allotted ten overs.
In reply, South Africa put up a fight and once again Captain Jacques Rudolph led from the front in pursuit of the 294 runs for victory. Rudolph scored 90 off 97 balls and was unlucky to be run out in the 25th over. Vaughan van Jaarsveld took the fight to the Australians hitting three sixes and four boundaries but was caught and bowled by Mitch Marsh for 70 from 69 deliveries. Rory Kleinveldt (32 off 19) also had a quick fire innings which propelled the batting side yards closer to the total.
In the final over South Africa required 15 overs to win but only managed to score 12 from the first four balls and required three from the last two. Mitch Marsh bowled Kleinveldt on the fifth and Rusty Theron was run out on the last ball.
Philip Hughes was named man-of-the-match and Nathan Lyon the off spinner was named man of the series.
