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Australia strike back with crushing win
Superb top order batting by Australia paved the way for a series-levelling win against South Africa. Adam Gilchrist (55), Shane Watson (63) and Brad Hodge (58) struck half-centuries to set the pace, and captain Ricky Ponting ended unbeaten on 49 to guide his team home. Watson in particular was impressive, as he and Gilchrist added a brisk 125 for the first wicket.
Earlier it was Herschelle Gibbs who grabbed ahold of the Australian bowling again. Australia, like South Africa later in the day, used 7 bowlers on a flat surface. Gibbs played freely, however, and struck 8 fours and 3 sixes in his second consecutive ODI hundred - 121 from 136 balls. Again Nathan Bracken shone brighter than any bowler on the day, taking 5 for 33 from his 10 overs.
South Africa 255-7 (50 overs)
HH Gibbs 121, AG Prince 65
NW Bracken 5-33
Australia 256-3 (50 overs)
SR Watson 63, BJ Hodge 58, AC Gilchrist 55, RT Ponting 49*
M Ntini 2-56
Australia won by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: NW Bracken
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Sreesanth said, "Next ball he was beaten and I said, 'is this the King Charles Lara? Who is this impostor, moving around nervously? I should have kept my mouth shut for the next ball - mind you, it was a length ball - Lara just pulled it over the church beyond the boundary! He is a true legend."
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