By Wallace J.A

Friday March 3, 2006: Today, 28-year-old South African pacer, Makhaya Ntini became the cape crusader for his team in a cricket match played against Australia at Newlands, Cape Town. In an absolutely devastating and enthralling demonstration of pace bowling, Ntini literally blew away the Australian frontline batsmen, ending up with match figures of 6-22 in 9.3 overs. At one stage in the game, he had 4 wickets for just 7 runs and that was inside the Australian’s first 10 overs at the batting crease. This is the best bowling figures for a South African in a ODI (One Day International), eclipsing Allan Donald’s bowling figures of 6-23.

Batting first, the South Africans were able to garner a total of 289 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs. The top seven (7) South African batsmen got into double figures with Herschelle Gibbs getting 66 runs and Justin Kemp 51 not out. The South African batsmen had absolutely no respect for the Australian pacemen and ‘belted’ the ball all over the field. Towards the close of their innings, they were able to score in excess of 60 runs in just 50 deliveries.

The visiting Australians never seemed to be in the running and lost wickets quickly and regularly. They never seem to have the ability to respond to Ntini’s magic with the ball. At the end, the mighty Aussies were scuttled out for a mere 93 runs in just 34.3 overs. This total represents the fourth lowest total by an Australian cricket team in a ODI. Shane Watson top scored for the tourists with 27 runs and Michael Hussey contributed 22 runs.

The tourists were without captain Ricky Ponting and all rounder, Andrew Symonds. They are now 2-0 down in the five Standard Bank ODI series to be played against South Africa. The third ODI comes up at Port Elizabeth on Sunday March 5,2006, and the tourists must win the remaining three matches to win the series, a feat that they are quite capable of accomplishing.