Maxwell luckless as South Africans break shackles and ODI records
Hobart: It’s been argued that Glenn Maxwell has been without luck when it comes to Australian selection in recent times. That perceived misfortune extended to the middle on Sunday when the Victorian was denied two key wickets as South Africa climbed out of a dire early position to post an imposing total in the series-deciding one-day international at Blundstone Arena.
Sent in by Australian captain Aaron Finch on a wicket seemingly playing few tricks, the Proteas slumped to 3-55 in the 16th over before captain Faf du Plessis (125 from 114 balls) and fellow middle-order batsman David Miller (139 from 108) first steadied the ship then came home with a wet sail, both posting centuries as South Africa finished their 50 overs on 5-320, ensuring a challenging chase for a depleted and out-of-form Australian batting lineup.
The 252-run stand for the fourth wicket was the biggest ever ODI partnership against Australia, surpassing the 237 of Sri Lankan openers Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya at the SCG in January 2003.
Things might well have been different though, as Maxwell thought he had removed both men at various stages. Somewhat lost amid Maxwell’s lack of opportunities in Test cricket over the last 12 months is the fact he has also been denied much of a bowl in ODIs. Once widely considered an all-rounder, Maxwell became more of a part-timer in ODIs over the last three years.
Until Sunday, he hadn’t bowled more than four overs in an ODI innings since a match against India in January 2016, and under the captaincy of Steve Smith, Maxwell has often not bowled at all, with Travis Head generally given preference. Even when Tim Paine took over the one-day leadership for the tour of England during the Australian winter, Maxwell bowled just four overs across the three games he played.
In the first two ODIs of this South Africa series, Maxwell had sent down just one over, but on Sunday his good friend and long-time Victorian teammate Finch was happy to give Maxwell an extended trundle. The skipper should have been rewarded for his decision too.
Maxwell drew an edge from du Plessis in the 27th over, but gloveman Alex Carey spilled a regulation chance with the touring captain on 29. Then in the 33rd over, Maxwell looked as though he’d removed Miller for 41, after umpire Aleem Dar raised his index finger following an lbw review.
Somewhat contentiously, Miller reviewed the decision after an extended consultation with du Plessis, with Dar opting not to enforce the 15-second limit for DRS challenges. Miller had taken a lengthy stride and was hit below the knee roll, but the review was successful, with technology showing the ball missing because of height.
At that stage South Africa were 3-133, a total which would soon be doubled, and then some, as Miller and du Plessis took full control with an array of creative shots in the closing stages of the innings.
Carey’s spill came after he had already taken three catches off the bowling of Australia’s seamers. Mitchell Starc was lively early and was rewarded just a ball into his second over when Quinton de Kock nicked a beautiful delivery from the left-armer. Reeza Hendricks’ painstaking innings of eight ended in the 10th over when he was caught down the leg-side off the bowling of Marcus Stoinis. Starc also benefited from a leg-side edge as Aiden Markram was removed for 32, bringing Miller to the crease.
Du Plessis was eventually caught brilliantly in the deep by Shaun Marsh for 125, while Miller also fell late to 139, but the damage had well and truly been done in front of a very modest crowd of around 5000. Stoinis has been in good bowling form but bore the brunt of the onslaught, finishing with 2-70 from seven overs.
South Africa Innings
Q DE KOCK c Carey b Starc 4 (10 balls)
R HENDRICKS c Carey b Stoinis 8 (42)
A MARKRAM c Carey b Starc 32 (62)
F DU PLESSIS c Marsh b Stoinis 125 (171)
D MILLER c Finch b Hazlewood 139 (146)
H KLAASEN not out 1 (7)
D PRETORIUS not out 1 (1)
Sundries (1b 2lb 7w) 10
TOTAL: Five wickets for 320
Fall: 4 (de Kock), 26 (Hendricks), 55 (Markram), 307 (du Plessis), 318 (Miller).
Bowling: M Starc 10-1-57-2 (2w), J Hazlewood 10-1-53-1 (1w), P Cummins 10-2-67-0 (2w), M Stoinis 7-0-70-2, A Zampa 6-0-32-0, G Maxwell 7-0-38-0 (1w/2).
Batting time: 222 mins.
Overs: 50.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Paul Wilson (AUS).
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).
Third Umpire: Michael Gough (ENG).
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