Captain George Bailey led the chase of Prime Ministers XI (PM XI) with an unbeaten half-century to help them register a 4-wicket victory in the single one-day practice match against South Africa. Earlier in the game, the PM XI bowlers led the riot with the ball to clean up South Africa for just 173 runs in 42 overs.
Having opted to bat first, it was an awful show for the visitors with the bat. Opener Aiden Markram and David Miller in the middle order registered scores of 40s or else the scorecard would have looked much worse! Kagiso Rabada batting at no.9 scored an unbeaten 28* runs which helped SA get to that par score.
South African batsmen Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien all registered ducks while PM XI bowlers Jason Behrendorff and Usman Qadir picked up three wickets apiece.
Chasing a par total, Josh Phillippe (no.3) provided the perfect start for PM XI with a half century – 57 (53). Once he departed, Bailey stitched a 73-run stand for the 6th wicket with Jason Sangha (38 runs) to help PM XI get over the line with ease! Lungi Ngidi is the pick of South African bowlers with 2 wickets in his 6 overs who conceded just 16 runs!
George Bailey or Chanderpaul?
The strange batting stance of George Bailey has caught Faf du Plessis in nothing but a big smile! In fact, everyone seems stunned as we see a more exaggerated version of the Shiv Chanderpaul stance. Here is the video.
With the return of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the Australian ODI side looks very much settled for the 3-match series and it will be an added pressure on this weak South African line-up. The visitors have to analyze their flaws and prepare themselves fully before the start of ODI series.
The three ODIs between Australia and South Africa will be played at Perth Stadium (Nov 04), the Adelaide Oval (Nov 09) and in Hobart (Nov 11). Then, on November 17, both these teams will meet in Queensland for the one-off T20I match.
Brief Scores:
Prime Ministers XI – 174/6 in 36.3 overs (Josh Phillippe – 57, George Bailey – 51*, Lungi Ngidi – 2/16, Kagiso Rabada – 2/41) beat South Africa – 173 all out in 42 overs (Aiden Markram – 47, David Miller – 45, Usman Qadir – 3/28, Jason Behrendorff – 3/35) by a margin of 4 wickets.
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