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CANBERRA. — South Africa conceded a 2-1 series lead after losing the third one-day international cricket match to Australia by 73 runs as the tourists failed to build on a century from Hashim Amla at Manuka Oval in Canberra yesterday. Australia posted a formidable 329-5 on the back of 109 off 127 balls from opening batsman Aaron Finch and some devastating late hitting from Steve Smith who blazed his way to 73 not out off just 53 deliveries.
South Africa could only muster 256 all out despite 102 from Amla and an entertaining 52 from 34 balls from AB de Villiers.

However, the Proteas will be kicking themselves that they let the match slip after they had been 108-1 in the 19th over thanks to Amla and his opening partner Quinton de Kock (47), and 224-3 in the 38th over after Amla and De Villiers had put on 76 runs off 9.2 overs for the fourth wicket.

De Villiers, who was out leg-before to seamer Kane Richardson, trying to force a delivery to the leg side, and Amla, bowled by paceman Josh Hazelwood, fell in the space of two runs as the skids were pulled out from under the visitors.

The Proteas eventually lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 32 runs with Imran Tahir unable to bat with a knee injury.
Captain De Villiers blamed himself for his team failing to close the match out.

“We (De Villiers and Amla) had a nice partnership there, we got a bit of momentum but, unfortunately, I got out to a silly shot.
“I would have loved to have taken it past 40 overs. I always felt like, with 10 overs to go, if we had a few wickets in hand we would have had a good chance. Unfortunately we lost our way,” De Villiers said after the game.

Australia’s batsmen adapted far more quickly to a pitch which became slower and lower as the ball got older, a fact that De Villiers conceded.
“All of the (Australian) batters set it up really nicely for them. They (never) had two new batters at the crease at any time so it was a really well-constructed innings from them.

Especially Steve Smith, to finish like that on a slow wicket was an impressive performance,” he explained. — AFP.