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Du Plessis earns tri-series triumph

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Francois du Plessis impressed with the bat during two strong partnerships as South Africa claimed a six-wicket victory over Australia in the triangular series final in Harare.

Du Plessis fell four short of a century after sharing a second-wicket stand of 98 with Hashim Amla and a fourth-wicket partnership of 91 with AB de Villiers - who both recorded half-centuries - as South Africa reached their target with 55 balls remaining.

Earlier Aaron Finch hit a fifty in Australia's 217 for nine in which Dale Steyn claimed figures of 4-34 after South Africa captain de Villiers had won the toss.

Both sides made a single change to their starting XI as South Africa's Imran Tahir came in for Rilee Rossouw, while James Faulkner replaced the injured Kane Richardson for Australia.

Finch got Australia off to a steady start and the 27-year-old went on to reach his half-century off 72 balls including five fours.

Fellow opener Phillip Hughes also started brightly as he hit Morne Morkel for two fours off the second over, but his stint at the crease was cut short when he became Steyn's first victim as he was caught by de Villiers at short cover for 15.

Four overs later Hughes' replacement Steven Smith followed him back when David Miller took an easy catch running in from mid-on off Wayne Parnell, and George Bailey was next to lose his wicket cheaply when he was bowled by Tahir to leave Australia 82 for three in the 19th over.

Francois du Plessis advances towards his eventual score of 96 as he all but saw South Africa to victory over Australia in Harare

Finch and Mitchell Marsh rebuilt before the former and his replacement Glenn Maxwell were both out with the score on 115. Finch went first, for 54, after Steyn took out his middle stump and Maxwell followed lbw next ball.

Marsh was bowled for 27 by Parnell, before Brad Haddin fell lbw to Steyn and Mitchell Johnson was caught by Aaron Phangiso on the boundary off Morkel to leave Australia struggling on 144 for eight.

But an impressive ninth-wicket stand of 71 from Faulkner and Mitchell Starc, who made 39 and 29 not out respectively, saw Australia to a respectable total. The former became Morkel's second victim, caught at long-on by Miller.

In response South Africa began to get some quick runs on the board, despite losing Quinton de Kock early.

The 21-year-old opener, who hit a four off Maxwell in the second over, became the Australia bowler's victim two overs later as he was caught by Bailey at cover to leave his side 14 for one.

But fellow opener Amla and du Plessis steadied the ship with their partnership of 98 to bring South Africa to 112 before the former fell for 51 - also caught by Bailey at cover - off Smith.

Parnell joined du Plessis at the crease but he only lasted five overs before he was bowled by Faulkner, chopping the ball onto his stumps, to leave South Africa needing 92 runs with 23 overs remaining.

Captain de Villiers built a strong fourth-wicket partnership with du Plessis, who scored eight fours and one maximum from his 99 balls but fell to Johnson, caught at mid-on off a full-toss, the ball before de Villiers hit the winning four through cover.


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