RSA VS AUS - 2nd ODI, Australia tour of South Africa, 2020

Separated by 20 days, two 23 year-olds have owned the stage today in Bloemfontein. One with the ball and the other with the bat. Lungi Ngidi, in the first innings, displayed his artistry with the ball to claim a well-deserving six-fer while Janneman Malan came into his own after an extended phase of comfort-cushion from the experienced batters which helped him clear the cobwebs inside his system. What more could you possibly ask from these two absolute superstars of the game. This ODI theatrics could be a one off thing, but don't let that take the sheen away from the fact that South African cricket and its pool of talent is in safe hands and with more games, we might well see their full potential. It's been some night folks. The next one though, unlike the last two, will be a day-game as both teams head to Potchefstroom for the final flourish on Saturday. Do remember to join us for that. Until next time, it's a goodbye and good night from Raju Peethala, Akshay Maanay, Abhinand Raghavendran and Shashikant Singh. Cheers!!

Quinton de Kock, South Africa skipper: Obviously it is never good to lose a wicket early when you are chasing but having said that, Janneman and Smuts read the situation and played it well. I didn't think that at all (of the surface being a 350+ one). They (Warner and Finch) came out with intent and played really well it was just about getting a partnership with the ball. It is great to have Lungi leading the attack in the absence of KG. It was the thing coming into the series, giving youngsters a chance, they have played a lot of franchise cricket and have learnt to play at that level but to come out here and show is great to see. It is great (that we have won the series) but we should not take the foot off the gas. It was about time (I won a series). It feels good that other guys have done well and backed me up. 

Malan: Fortunately, put the first ball away for a single. Compliments to the bowlers, it was brilliant, Jon Jon for steadying the ship, Heinrich for his run-a-ball fifty. There was a bit of a chat about targets after 30 overs. The partners kept me calm when I was itching a bit. They said "you need to bat through." It was well composed by the team. With the sun going down, it was skidding a bit more, the ball got a little bit wet in the outfield and it (batting) was a bit easier.

Janneman Malan and Lungi Ngidi, Players of the Match: "Very happy. I was given a challenge before the game by the coach; you have to knock over the top three and I came in with that mentality. I am using a lot of cross-seam and bit of scrambled seam as well which is beneficial and a lot of slower ones at the death. We have been told to work hard on our death bowling, so coming out with those skills and restricting a team is a good thing. I have been very confident right now and looking to keep the momentum going," says an elated Ngidi.

Aaron Finch, Australia skipper: We were 20-30 short after the start that we got. Bowlers tried hard, but Klaasen coming in changed the momentum of the game, it was great batting. We just kept losing wickets at crucial times, when you got set batters batting for long periods, that makes a difference. We keep making the same mistakes along the way and we need to improve on that. Dew can't be an excuse and we just couldn't find that breakthrough to expose a new batter and that cost us.

Most ODI wins for SA against a team:
50 vs Australia (102 matches)*
50 vs Pakistan (79)
46 vs India (84)
44 vs Sri Lanka (77)
44 vs West Indies (62)

SA have won 10 of their last 11 ODIs against Australia -- W W L W W W W W W W

Highest successful chase at Bloemfontein (ODIs):
272 by SA v AUS, 2020*
263 by ENG v SA, 1996
253 by NZ v ZIM, 2003
250 by SA v NZ, 2005

20:45 local: Professional chase from South Africa. I've got no better words to describe that. Thoroughly professional if I may add. For the second time in a row, skipper de Kock failed with the bat, but that didn't dampen the spirit of the team. Janneman Malan, who was out for a golden duck in his debut game, announced himself on the big stage with an impressive hundred and his stellar knock meant, the rest could just play the second fiddle. Smuts, Klaasen and Miller - all three - aced that role to perfection and barring a couple of half-chances, South Africa didn't really offer a sniff to the visiting side. Overall, the batters have done justice to Ngidi's best ever bowling figures in an ODI and fittingly, they've claimed the series with a game to go. Hang around for the presentations...

Starc to Miller, FOUR, a low full toss has been hammered through extra cover and that marks the end of this game. A special win for the Proteas as they seal their first ever series (across formats) win in a year. They've bagged the series 2-0 with a game to go and to put icing on the cake, this is the highest successful chase at this ground

Starc to Miller, no run, full outside off, Miller drives and picks out the fielder at mid-off

Starc to Janneman Malan, 1 run, yorker from round the wicket at the stumps, Malan squeezes it towards mid-off and rushes through for a quick single

Just one hit away

Cummins to Janneman Malan, 1 run, full and wide of off, Malan jams the drive to the left of cover

Cummins to Janneman Malan, SIX, swivels into a short ball and pulls it for a 69-metre maximum over backward square. Was a slower ball from Cummins and Malan did well to pick the variation despite the swivel

Cummins to Janneman Malan, leg byes, 2 runs, pacy short ball directed at the head, Malan swivels and misses the pull. The ball flies off the shoulder to the left of Carey and hence, given as leg byes

Cummins to Janneman Malan, wide, bumper on the stumps, Malan doesn't bother with it. Too high reckons umpire Bongani Jele

Cummins to Miller, 1 run, gets up on his tippy toes and steers the slower short ball with an open bat face to third man

Cummins to Miller, 2 runs, clipped away off the back foot and Miller's placed it to the right of fielder at deep mid-wicket to pick up an easy two

Cummins to Miller, no run, good length on off-stump, Miller bunts it to the left of the bowler