Bailey, Hastings lift Australia to 294-9

Innings break Australia 294 for 9 (Bailey 74, Hastings 51, Phehlukwayo 4-44) v South AfricaLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Australia had many sparks but only George Bailey and John Hastings burst properly into flames against an inconsistent South Africa attack that relied on a youngster for direction. Andile Phehlukwayo, playing in his second ODI, dragged Australia back from 88 for 1 in the 13th over and Imran Tahir did a containing job but, after a speedy start, half-centuries from Bailey and Hastings got them close to 300.

Whether they will be happy with that will depend on how their young attack responds in the evening. If they have learnt anything from the South Africa, it will be not to get desperate and to operate with consistency. Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell were guilty of the former. Rabada’s off day – the first of his international career – came as he looked to make something happen on a zippy surface while Parnell’s search for swing was in vain.

Phehlukwayo, who varied his pace and stuck to a good length rather than too short, understood the conditions best and was rewarded most. He was helped by an Australian approach that veered close to reckless with batsmen lashing out at every opportunity. Five of the top six got starts but only Bailey made it count and if not from the support from the lower order, Australia’s bravado could have backfired.

Aaron Finch and David Warner took advantage of Rabada and Dale Steyn’s errors upfront. They offered too much width and occasionally bowled too short but …

continue reading in source www.espncricinfo.com