
PERTH, January 18: South African captain Hansie Cronje emphatically led his side into the limited overs tri-series finals against Australia as his team completed their round-robin commitments today.
Cronje hit a six to end the game as South Africa thrashed Australia by seven wickets to finish the preliminaries with seven wins from eight games in a competition which included New Zealand.
The fortunes of Cronje8217;s counterpart, Steve Waugh, continued to flag as he was dismissed for a first ball duck in Australia8217;s 165 all out.
South Africa passed the total from the second ball of the 29th over. Cronje teamed with Daryll Cullinan for an unbeaten 70 runs to wrap up the match early.
SCOREBOARD
Australia: Stuart Law c Richardson b Pollock 1, Jimmy Maher c Cronje b Klusener 13, Ricky Ponting c Kallis b Symcox 16, Darren Lehmann c Rhodes b Donald 10, Steve Waugh c Richardson b Donald 0, Michael Bevan c Cullinan b McMillan 26, Adam Gilchrist c Donald b Symcox 6, Ian Harvey run out 43, Brad Young c Richardson b Donald 5, Andy Bichel not out 27, Paul Wilson b Donald 0; Extras: 6lb, 4nb, 8w 18
Total: 165 all out
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-27, 3-46, 4-46, 5-54, 6-70, 7-93, 8-108, 9-165.
Bowling: Shaun Pollock 10-1-35-1, Pat Symcox 10-1-33-2, Allan Donald 9.2-0-29-4, Lance Klusener 9-1-27-1, Brian McMillan 8-3-27-1, Jacques Kallis 2-0-8-0.
South Africa: Gary Kirsten run out 44, Lance Klusener c Law b Wilson 11, Jacques Kallis c Wilson b Bichel 38, Daryll Cullinan not out 35, Hansie Cronje not out 39; Extras: 3nb 3
Total: 170 for three
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-80, 3-100.
Bowling: Paul Wilson 9.2-2-41-1, Andy Bichel 8-0-55-1, Ian Harvey 4-0-25-0, Brad Young 7-0-49-0.