Australia edge thriller against Proteas

Australia had to survive a few scares in Perth on their way to a 32-run win over South Africa in the first of five one-day internationals.

The hosts managed to reach 300 for eight, batting first at the WACA Ground, despite a middle-overs collapse, as George Bailey top-scored with 70 off 75 balls, after Michael Clarke injured his hamstring.

South Africa’s Vernon Philander took 4-45, though their batsmen did not fare as well at the start, leaving ICC ODI player of the year AB de Villiers and David Miller to resurrect things.

Australia should have wrapped things up late on, when South Africa were 222 for nine, but a last-wicket stand between Imran Tahir and Morne Morkel kept the hosts on edge until Glenn Maxwell finally got rid of Tahir.

Australia’s start had set the tone when David Warner made 46 in a 94-run stand with Aaron Finch, but both departed in the 15^th over to Philander.

Clarke’s slow sojourn was ended on 11 by Dale Steyn - the Australia skipper would play no further part in the match - while Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh also unable to inspire with the bat.

It was down to Bailey therefore, as he smashed three fours and as many sixes to put on 92 together with Matthew Wade in just under 14 overs.

Maxwell plundered a quick-fire 29 towards the end with five boundaries, leaving the ICC player of the year Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Coulter-Nile to see out the 50 overs.

South Africa struggled on their way to 76 for four after Johnson got rid of openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock, with only Francois du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien providing some respite.

It was only when de Villiers and Miller put on 126 that South Africa could dream of victory, the former taking little notice of the run-rate to smash his way to 80 in just 76 deliveries.

Miller hit a run-a-ball 65, though Coulter-Nile then put the brakes on with two wickets in the 37^th over. He returned to despatch Steyn for six after Josh Hazlewood got rid of Philander, but South Africa’s hopes were firmly down when de Villiers was run out following a mix-up.

Yet the Proteas were not done, as Tahir and Morkel fought their way to a 46-run stand, frustrating Australia’s bowlers all the way to the 49^th over before one slog too many from Tahir saw him caught in the deep by Warner.