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The legspinner, who was bashed for three consecutive sixes by Hardik Pandya in the first ODI, feels bowling bad balls willfully could sometimes buck the pressure off bowlers

Alagappan Muthu in Kolkata 19-Sep-20172:45

Bowling right lengths important in India – Zampa

Perhaps because three of his deliveries – at a length he was meant to bowl – disappeared for sixes, Australia legspinner Adam Zampa realises the value of willfully bowling bad balls in one-day cricket.He was bashed for three consecutive sixes by Hardik Pandya during the course of a lower-order recovery that became match-changing for India. In the aftermath of that 26-run defeat, captain Steven Smith admitted that his lead spinner may have bowled a bit too full. On Tuesday, Zampa said the same, contemplating the possibility of giving up a single to deep point as a good option against a batsman on a roll.”The length over here is very important, particularly with the size of the grounds,” he said. “In Australia, you can mix up your length a little bit and you’ll get away with it purely because of the size of the Ovals. And here, sometimes I think you’ve got to try and bowl a bad ball, almost, to buck the pressure off you, to get a player off strike. A cut shot out to deep point can play a good role, sometimes. I was thinking the other day but just didn’t execute it well enough. I pride myself on bowling well under pressure and the other day I just didn’t execute as well as I’d have liked to.”R Ashwin had echoed similar sentiments to ESPNcricinfo in 2016 that an over of six well-constructed dot balls might be the way forward – although he was talking specifically about T20 cricket. As Pandya showed, batsmen are happy to get under a bowler – especially a spinner – when he hits a good length and hit straight – which carries much less risk than cross-bat slogs.”You never like to be hit for three sixes in a row,” Zampa said. “But I guess it does happen, it’s probably happened to Shane Warne and guys like that too. As long as you don’t put yourself under too much pressure and learn from those situations, and hopefully if it happens again, I’ll get him out earlier, I’ll get out of that situation better.”Zampa eventually got Pandya out for 83 – although too late in this case – in his ninth over with a flatter, faster ball. “It is tough sometimes knowing that you just have to execute this ball because if you don’t, it’ll probably going to be the same result. So as I said, a bad ball can sometimes be your best way out and just getting the wicket, that’s your job as a spinner in the middle overs.”Against teams like India, there’s always going to be a partnership, and there are going to be situations like that that you have to get out of and I think the best thing to do in those situations is to just take a deep breath and think about what the team needs – whether getting that player off strike or getting him out and that could be the difference of 20, 30, 40 runs that you have to chase.”

Ravi Shastri is clear on one thing as he takes over the position of India coach from Anil Kumble: the captain is the boss of the team. The coach and his backroom staff, according to the new India coach, are there only to make sure the players are in the right frame of mind to perform at their best.Shastri beat four other candidates to the job and said he only applied for the position having understood the “gravity of the situation” once Kumble stepped down in less than ideal circumstances last month.Shastri was team director just before Kumble was appointed coach last year, and he said he had been disappointed when he was overlooked as head coach in 2016. But after Kumble’s one-year contract expired in June, the BCCI chose not to renew it and instead sent out an advertisement seeking candidates for the position. Kumble himself had been one of the applicants, even though he was told he would be given “direct entry”. Shastri, though, was not.The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – tasked with finding India’s next coach told the BCCI that Kumble remained their first choice. But Kumble stepped down after realising the differences between him and the captain Virat Kohli had become “untenable”.It was then that Shastri decided to enter the fray, with the BCCI re-opening the interview process.”I had not really wrapped my head around the gravity of the situation,” Shastri told . “There was nothing personal. I really hadn’t begun to understand the seriousness of this. But when I sat down and gave it a serious thought, I began to tell myself: ‘Here is a unit that I have been part of and enjoyed a great working relationship with. Having been part of the unit that helped it become No. 1, I thought the onus is on me now to make it work again, in the best interests of everybody involved. That’s when I knew it’s time for me to apply again.”According to various individuals from the BCCI and CAC as well as the committee of administrators one big point of difference between Kohli and Kumble was who was the boss.Shastri is more than happy to let the captain take charge. “It’s always the captain’s team and it is the leader who calls the shots. That’s how it has always worked. A coach’s role, effectively speaking, is to stay in the background and let the onus be on the players. The coach and support staff’s role is to get the players in the most brilliant frame of mind to execute things and if done effectively, it brings enjoyment to the player’s game.”Shastri said his relationship with the support staff – both Sanjay Bangar (assistant coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) were appointed by him – as well as the positive rapport he has with the players meant he could hit the ground running.”I’m simply going to press the refresh button and begin from where I left. I know what I’m stepping into, players have an idea of what’s coming, so that ticks the first box. Just to give you an idea, I won’t be spending the first six to eight months in the job warming up to the team. That had already been accomplished in my previous stint. This time, it’s going to be about getting on the job from day one.”Although Shastri and Kohli will be the men in command, a new challenge awaits them in the form of Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan, who have been appointed as consultants by the BCCI at the behest of the CAC. The CAC felt, with India travelling overseas in the next two years for challenging Test series’ and the 2019 World Cup in England, the players needed experienced specialist hands to ensure success.Asked for his thoughts on working with Dravid and Zaheer, Shastri was optimistic, but hinted he would have the last word on support staff appointments.”In fact, even in my last stint, I had asked people like Rahul and Zaheer to come every now and then,” Shastri told . “I even asked Sachin [Tendulkar] to come at some stage and have a chat with the boys. I always believe that you need a fresh set of ideas. Your core team is meant to do the job for 200 days a year and every now and then, whenever you get some fresh inputs through with the quality of players like Zak (Zaheer) or Rahul it can only be good.”Tomorrow it could be an excellent fielding coach. What stops Jonty Rhodes from coming and having a chat with the boys? Overseas, I could pick the brains of a fast bowler who has bowled very well in those conditions – say in South Africa or Australia. It’s fresh inputs that might trigger off something. I am always open to such kind of ideas.”

Chelsea are expressing "concrete interest" in signing Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca this summer, according to a recent update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Matheus Franca?

The 19-year-old is a bright young prospect in his homeland of Brazil currently, making a name for himself at Flamengo with his attacking quality.

Franca has already scored nine goals in 53 appearances for his current club, invariably taking up an attacking midfield role but being capable of playing deeper or even further forward in attack, and he is also a six-time capped Brazil Under-16s international.

Chelsea are seemingly set to have plenty of competition in any potential move for the teenager, as Newcastle United have been backed to snap him up in the near future, with a move to the Premier League clearly on the cards.

A new update suggests that the Blues are now at the front of the queue to snap up Franca, however, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to bring in the right players during the summer transfer window, hitting the ground running after officially coming in as manager over the weekend.

Are Chelsea close to signing Franca?

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed Newcastle's interest but said that Chelsea are genuinely interested in signing Franca this summer, with talks set to take place this week, in order for a move to be sealed before others can swoop in:

"Chelsea are showing concrete interest in Brazilian talent Matheus França as per Mail — he was on Newcastle radar in January. Understand there’s still no official bid but talks will take place this week with Flamengo. Negotiations will be around €20/25m fee."

While Franca may not yet be a household name in the English game, there is no doubt that his arrival could be met with excitement, considering the flair and unpredictability that so many young Brazilian footballers can possess, whether it be Ronaldinho, Neymar or Vinicius Jr down the years.

The Blues are also set to sign his compatriot Angelo Gabriel this week, so the club's hierarchy clearly have a focus on building a real fresh dawn for their new manager to work on long into the future. France is someone with a high ceiling who could develop into a real force eventually, but if he does join Chelsea, he should be given time to adjust to his surroundings and get used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, rather than be expected to be an instant hit.

In Pochettino, the hope is that the Blues have someone who is an expert at dealing with youngsters, as was the case at Tottenham with Harry Kane and Dele Alli at the time, for example, and if the manager sees Franca as an ideal target, he has to be trusted in the transfer window by Todd Boehly.

The Brazilian has been hailed as a "great finisher" by coach Fabio Matias – an attribute that felt lacking at Stamford Bridge too often last season – but he has described so many aspects of his game, too, saying: "He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that."

Morne Morkel said that the change of ball, due to it losing it’s shape, in the 59th over of New Zealand’s innings threw his team off

Firdose Moonda in Hamilton27-Mar-2017South Africa were thrown off guard by a 59th-over ball change in Hamilton, according to Morne Morkel. New Zealand were building steadily in the middle session, on 163 for 1 when umpires Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker ordered a ball change, having felt the ball had gone out of shape. South Africa had been getting some reverse and were clearly unhappy with the change, and the replacement – with the changed ball they conceded 80 runs in the next 21 overs, as Kane Williamson took control.”It was at a crucial stage. We had just got the ball to reverse. From a mental point of view, it cost us about 15 overs to get back into the game,” Morkel said. “For me, it’s a grey area because when they change the ball, they pick a ball for you. For me that doesn’t add up. I would rather they give the fielding team three balls to pick from. But then I am also blaming my tools and I can’t do that.”Instead, Morkel gave full credit to Williamson, who transferred pressure back onto South Africa and marshalled Jeet Raval to a career-best 88. “Kane plays length very well. Anything with slight width, he will cut and play square. Then if you go that touch fuller, especially on this sort of surface, it’s easy. The margins are very small to him,” Morkel said. “The short ball is always key, but here with the surface on the slower side, it’s not such a big threat, so guys can just wait for that fullish delivery. He can bat time and that’s the sort of thing that bowlers don’t like.”Before the series began, South Africa had identified Williamson’s importance and they have duly been on the receiving end of two centuries in this series. Raval indicated his captain still has more to offer. “He is one of the best players we’ve got, if not the best,” Raval said. “The way he goes about his business is awesome. He is never satisfied with 100, or 150, he wants to get big runs and help the team. I was lucky that I was batting at the other end and got to pick his brain a little bit.”Raval on his mammoth partnership with Williamson: ‘I felt like a clown batting with the master at the other end’•Getty Images

Raval shared a record second-wicket stand with Williamson against South Africa, of 190, but could not add a personal milestone of his own. After five fifties, he has yet to convert to a ton and said his attempt this time was the most difficult. “It’s a world-class bowling attack. You are made to work hard for every single run. It wasn’t easy out there. I felt like a clown batting with the master at the other end,” Raval said. “That’s what Test cricket is about – it’s challenging and it never gets easier. Every time you score a run – it’s bloody hard work. You have to deny them for as long as possible, and then hopefully they come to you and you score runs.”Although Raval had the best mentor he could have asked for urging him on, a second-new ball proved too much for the opener. Yet he remained proud of his efforts. “You go through periods where you are doubting yourself or second-guessing yourself. Kane came down and said ‘stick to your game plans and your routines’. That just calms you down. He could see a couple of times when I was getting ahead of myself,” Raval said. “To watch him bat at the other end was unbelievable and to get the partnership with him was outstanding.”Once South Africa broke that stand, they took two more quick wickets but, with Williamson still there, they would consider themselves to be on the back foot, irrespective of what ball they hold. “There’s only one team under pressure now and that’s us,” Morkel said. “We need to come with the right attitude tomorrow. We know they are going to come really hard at us in the second innings to get the win. It’s a nice way for us mentally, we speak about being mentally strong. It would be a great way for us to finish the season if we can hang on.”

Chelsea have made signing a defensive midfielder a priority this summer amid strong suggestions N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic could be on their way out of Stamford Bridge.

The Croatian has been touted as a target for treble-winning outfit Manchester City, whilst the long-serving Frenchman is rumoured to have been offered six times his current salary to make a switch to Saudi Arabia.

The Blues massively underperformed even with the pair in their ranks last season, but they could be about to upgrade with a player wanted by many other elite clubs.

What is the latest on Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo?

Having missed out on a move for the midfielder in the January window, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Chelsea are now advancing on a deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.

"Chelsea are advancing on Moisés Caicedo deal. Talks progressing on the player side, contract proposal made — personal terms close to being agreed. Deal not done yet — it will take time," the Italian journalist tweeted.

The Ecuador international handed in a public transfer request at the Seagulls at the turn of the year, only to then backtrack and sign a new contract that runs through until 2027, with the option of a further 12 months.

Unsurprisingly given his contract situation and the strong interest from elsewhere, with Arsenal also potentially still interested, Chelsea are said to be aware that it will take a bid of at least £80m to land their top midfield target.

Is Moises Caicedo a good fit for Chelsea?

Caicedo is not being brought to Chelsea to replace the 2022/23 version of Kante, who struggled with injuries last season that restricted him to just six Premier League starts.

Instead, if they are to have any realistic prospect of challenging in the higher reaches of the Premier League in Mauricio Pochettino's first season in charge, they need the same version of Kante that was crowned PFA Player of the Year in 2016-17 – the last season Chelsea won the top flight.

Kante really was a colossus that campaign, having been hailed at the time by legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson as being "by far the best player in the Premier League".

The 32-year-old machine played 35 of Chelsea's 38 league games that season and impressed with his tenacious style in midfield, winning 72% of the 177 tackles he attempted, as per Infogol.

Comparing those figures to the current day Caicedo, the Ecuadorian was successful with 80% of his 116 tackles last season, showing he can more than match peak Kante with that side of his game.

Caicedo also completed 89% of his passes last season, which is identical to that of Kante in 2016/17.

The comparisons do not stop there, either, as both men assisted one goal and scored one goal in those respective campaigns.

As put by Football365 writer Jason Souttar, Caicedo "is a very special player", and one "who could be regarded as the best No. 6 in the world very soon".

Indeed, on the basis of the past 12 months, Caicedo ranks in the top 6% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion (88.5%), as per FBref, in the top 11% for interceptions (1.61) and top 13% for tackles (2.87) per 90.

For comparison, Kovacic has averaged just 0.97 interceptions and 1.82 tackles per 90 over the past year, though he does edge Caicedo in terms of his pass-completion rate of 86.1%.

The £80m valuation is certainly not cheap, but if Chelsea want to replace the Kante of old, then they really should not look any further than the Seagulls sensation, given the glowing evidence above.

The Borussia Dortmund star has been deployed as a winger for the USMNT, but getting him going centrally could define this cycle.

It's safe to say that Gregg Berhalter and Gio Reyna have a lot to figure out. At some point over the next two months, the pair will need to get in a room together, sit down and talk, not as player and coach, but as people. What happened between the Berhalters and the Reynas is beyond soccer, and they need to find a way to put that behind them.

That's one thing, and the most important thing, for them to figure out. After the personal side is behind them, though, the focus will turn towards soccer, and there's a lot to work out there too.

Much has changed for Reyna with the U.S. men's national team since Berhalter's departure(?), and we're not just talking about that bleach-blonde hair. Both Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan have used Reyna in a way that Berhalter refused to, deploying him in a central role that, seemingly, gets the most out of him.

And, as the World Cup cycle now truly begins for the USMNT, maximizing Reyna's impact is one of the most important things on the agenda. Luckily for him, the two interim coaches may have left him with a pretty good blueprint.

Getty ImagesBerhalter's tactics

For much of Berhalter's original tenure, Reyna was identified exclusively as a wing player. There isn't anything objectively wrong with that. He plays the position well and offers something that many of the other wide men in the pool don't. He's super creative in the final third and good on the ball. Of the wingers in the squad, you could argue he's the best pure goalscorer, too.

However, Berhalter's tactics didn't really call for a winger like Reyna. With Christian Pulisic entrenched on the left, Timothy Weah was preferred on the right for several key reasons. Weah is absolutely key to Berhalter's ideal play in the final third: he beats his defenders, gets to the end line and whips in crosses for easy finishes. It's a formula that Berhalter has always relied on, and not necessarily one that lines up with Reyna's skillset.

Due to that, and a series of injury issues in the year leading up to the World Cup, Reyna wasn't a first-choice starter in Qatar, and we all know what happened next.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe positional debate

Back in March 2022, Berhalter had the chance to deploy Reyna centrally. Weston McKennie was out of action due to injury, leaving a hole in the middle of the field that Reyna, theoretically, could occupy. The Borussia Dortmund star said he would be happy to do so, citing the fact that he has long enjoyed playing in the centre.

"I'd feel perfectly comfortable playing there," Reyna said. "My favorite position is probably through the middle. Obviously, Weston does a lot for the team. But I can try to fill his shoes if I need to."

Berhalter, meanwhile, called it a possibility but opted to use Reyna as a substitute in the three qualifiers. That decision was understandable as the player was just coming back from a lengthy injury absence. When Reyna did come into the game, he replaced wingers Weah and Paul Arriola.

Still, as Reyna said, he is more than comfortable centrally. He was used there as a youth player and featured in the role during six of his 30 appearances for Dortmund this season. And, in an interview with the Bundesliga's official website last year, he did say he's happy to play anywhere on the field when called upon.

"I don’t really want to put a position out there,” he said, when asked where he prefers to play. “I think that’s one of the strengths of my game that I’m versatile. I can play on the left, in the middle, or on the right. I grew up playing in the middle as an attacking midfielder but I think with the way we play here, it’s very free-flowing and very open for all the attackers to be creative."

GettyWhat you get with Reyna down the middle

With Tyler Adams out of action in each of the last two windows, both Hudson and Callaghan have made a tactical tweak, inverting the midfield and putting Reyna in at the No.10. It's a move that didn't quite come off in the March window, but it was effective against Mexico in the Nations League semifinals.

Reyna was more influential than ever, even if he couldn't quite turn it into a goal or assist. He created several chances, looked comfortable taking on defenders and, perhaps most importantly, the USMNT midfield was not overrun despite the lack of a pure No. 6.

To put it lightly, Reyna looked free. He, no doubt, was motivated by the moment, having previously torched Mexico with his Maradona-esque run during last cycle. But, given the chance to make an impact in the middle of the field, Reyna did just that.

With Reyna on the field alongside the likes of Pulisic, Weah and Folarin Balogun, the USMNT has so many different, dangerous options to break down a defense. It's why Mexico were constantly on the back foot and had little way of stopping the U.S. until the game got totally out of hand.

That look, with those four in attack and two more defensive-minded midfielders behind them, could be the way forward since it helps the U.S. get their best players on the pitch together. That, of course, is the big bonus of all of this: it maximizes the USMNT's talent. Depth is good, flexibility is good, but there's also something to be said for getting outstanding players onto the field together and letting them go to work. However, sacrificing another midfielder to get Reyna into the XI does have its drawbacks…

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Getty / GOALA ripple effect

There is one notable downside to deploying Reyna centrally: it breaks up the MMA midfield. McKennie, Adams and Yunus Musah all solidified their spots as USMNT stars last cycle before shining at the World Cup, both individually and as a unit. They're all still young, too, with many backing that trio to be the go-to midfield for quite some time.

However, if Reyna does start down the middle, that means one of the three would have to come out. The most likely one to make way would be Musah, which would be harsh on the young Valencia star. He too played a good game against Mexico, showing growth as he evolved from a pure ball-progressor into a more complete midfielder.

Against Mexico, though, the USMNT showed that they could survive with a double-pivot. With all-energy Adams next to McKennie, the U.S. should have enough defensively to compete with most teams.

Is Berhalter willing to make that switch in big moments? Time will tell.

Former Dominica opening batsman Lockhart Sebastien has been appointed for a two-year term as a selector for the WICB, filling the place vacated by former fast bowling great Courtney Walsh. Walsh had stepped down from the selection panel last month after signing on as Bangladesh’s new bowling coach.Sebastien has served in various capacities within the WICB over the past few decades. He has managed the Windward Islands team for the last 12 years and has served as a director on the Windward Islands board for the last ten years. He also served as manager for West Indies A in 2013 and 2014.While thanking the Board of Directors for approving his appointment, Sebastien spoke of his determination to contribute as a selector. “I have always been a team player and, together with the other selectors, we will ensure the best West Indies team is selected at all times,” he said. “Selectors have not always pleased everyone in the Caribbean but I am part of a team who will try the utmost to make Caribbean people happy.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers will host a relegation-threatened Everton side at Molineux in their penultimate Premier League clash this afternoon and Julen Lopetegui will surely be wanting to see out the final home game of the season on a high note.

The Spaniard's impact since arriving in the Midlands in November has been huge and ultimately transformed Wolves' season after finding themselves struggling to pick up points and fighting against relegation for the majority of the campaign.

Now the club sit 13th in the Premier League after several improved performances has secured them safety in the top flight and a victory in front of the unwavering home support today will further cement the faith in Lopetegui ahead of next season.

Indeed, the meeting with Sean Dyche's side will not be easy as the Toffees are teetering on the edge of the relegation zone and will be fighting for their lives on the pitch to ensure they can take the crucial points needed to join Wolves in surviving a drop into the Championship.

Wolves have taken all three points away from their last three league games against the Merseysiders, but after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend, it could be an opportunity for Lopetegui to shake things up in the attacking threat with Hwang Hee-chan replacing Diego Costa in front of goal.

Will Hwang Hee-chan start against Everton?

It is fair to say that one of the biggest issues that Wolves have had this season is their lack of goal contributions, with no other team in the entire Premier League scoring fewer goals (30) this season.

Indeed, the Midlands outfit did make the effort to improve their presence in front of goal by signing former Chelsea star Costa on a free transfer in September, however, the Brazilian striker has failed to make the desired impact with just one goal scored so far and against Man United last weekend continued his uninspiring form.

Costa failed to have a single shot on or off target with just 22 touches of the ball over his 78-minute performance at Old Trafford, however, Hwang put on a much more lively cameo when he came off the bench for the second half.

The £30k-per-week South Korean dynamo – hailed "dangerous" by Kevin Campbell – delivered two shots on target, completed 100% of his dribbles and long balls, as well as making 13 accurate passes during his 45-minute display, warranting a much-deserved opportunity to start against Everton this afternoon.

Hwang has tallied up three goals and three assists over his 30 appearances in all competitions this season, but has only made ten starts in the top flight due to several injury troubles, which has ultimately hindered his ability to get a good run of form going in the team.

With that being said, Lopetegui essentially has nothing to lose by switching up his attack and making tweaks to his starting eleven this afternoon, but putting in the effort to improve upon last week's performance will be essential in proving his intent to get Wolves back to their winning ways next season.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIf there is any venue outside Australia where David Warner should feel at home it is the ground in Basseterre on the island of St Kitts. It is tailor-made for him with its short boundaries and hard surface. It is even named Warner Park. In his first international match at his namesake venue, Warner struck his sixth ODI hundred, and first outside Australia, to set up a 36-run victory over South Africa.Australia thus became the first team to win two games in this tri-series, which has now moved on from the slow, spinning surfaces of Guyana. Steven Smith had no hesitation in choosing to bat first and Warner’s 109 was the dominant contribution of the match, setting Australia on the path to 288 for 6.South Africa’s bowlers seemed to have done well to keep Australia under 300, but those same bowlers also formed a long tail that was unable to offer much resistance after Australia’s attack got through the middle order. Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood picked up three wickets each and the lower order collapsed, the last seven wickets falling for 42 runs.For a while, South Africa looked to be cruising in their chase. They had lost Quinton de Kock early, when he pulled Hazlewood to deep square leg for 19, but Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis set about building a typically solid platform that should have been adequate. They made it to 140 for 1 in the 26th over before Amla (60) was sharply taken by Smith at cover off Hazlewood.Life became tougher for the South African batsmen as Australia’s fast men found some reverse swing, which helped Starc get rid of du Plessis, who sliced to backward point for 63. AB de Villiers and JP Duminy then had the job of steering the rest of the innings, but de Villiers was also done by reverse swing when Hazlewood tailed one in to bowl him for 39.The loss of Duminy, through a somewhat lax sweep to deep midwicket off Zampa for 41, precipitated the lower-order collapse. Zampa had Farhaan Behardien lbw for 4 and had Wayne Parnell caught at long-on for 3, leaving too much work for the tail. Kyle Abbott had already been bowled, done by Starc’s reverse swing, before Aaron Phangiso also fell to Starc and Imran Tahir was run out to end the game.South Africa’s seamers had found almost no reverse earlier in the day. Like Australia, who dropped Nathan Lyon and Glenn Maxwell, South Africa strengthened their pace group at the expense of their spin attack, and while Abbott and Parnell especially were tight enough, they couldn’t manage to string enough wickets together, even after ending Warner’s innings.Warner’s previous five one-day international hundreds had all come in Australia, where the quick and bouncy pitches tend to suit his preference for the ball coming on to the bat. He started this one with two boundaries in the first over of the game and in all struck 11 fours and two sixes, and he was typically harsh on any width offered by the quicks.His opening partner, Aaron Finch, found no momentum and was bowled for 13 off 28 when he missed an attempted sweep off an Imran Tahir straight ball. Warner and Usman Khawaja put on 136 for the second wicket and a total well in excess of 300 looked like a strong possibility.Warner brought up his hundred from his 109th delivery when he cut a single off Abbott, and two deliveries later Khawaja raised his half-century from his 58th ball, but neither man was to go on much further. The second drinks break came at just the right time for South Africa, as Warner pulled Parnell to midwicket off the first ball after the resumption.Khawaja had swept the spinners effectively but the shot eventually brought his downfall on 59 when he top-edged off Phangiso and skied a catch that was taken by Amla from short fine leg. George Bailey was lbw to Tahir for 11 and Mitchell Marsh holed out deep midwicket for 10 off an Abbott full toss, and South Africa’s fightback was looking strong.However, Smith managed to steer the Australians into the high 200s with a half-century at better than a run-a-ball, with some assistance from Matthew Wade, who scored 24 off 14 balls. Smith ended up unbeaten on 52 from 49 deliveries, and Australia had enough to hold off South Africa.