Woeful South Africa stunned by Lee's pace

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 20, 2006 (AFP) - Fast bowler Brett Lee grabbed a stunning 5-22 as Australia thrashed woeful South Africa by 59 runs despite setting the tourists just 246 to win.

Lee's inspired spell sparked a massive collapse which saw the Proteas lose five middle-order wickets for 10 runs.

Only a late dogged stand by veteran Shaun Pollock, who hit 46 off 32 balls added respectability to the total as South Africa reached 186 off 47 overs in reply to Australia's 245.

Lee was assisted in his task by spinner Brad Hogg who weighed in with 3-32.

The paceman's efforts outshone the earlier heroics of opener Phil Jaques who blasted Australia's highest one-day debut score of 94 off 112 balls, surpassing Keppler Wessels' 79 against New Zealand in 1982-83.

It was sweet revenge for the Australians who had lost their previous tri-series match to South Africa by five wickets.

The South Africans had seemed on top after being sent in to bat and dismissing the Australians for a modest total on a good wicket.

Jaques, brought in for the rested Adam Gilchrist, was the only batsman to make a big score, with six of his colleagues dismissed for single-figure scores.

Only James Hopes with 38 and Michael Clarke with 34 also made more than 20 to help steady the innings.

Andrew Hall was the best of the South African bowlers with 4-35 off 9.2 overs while Shaun Pollock took 2-31 from 10.

The Proteas have now lost two of their three matches so far in the series.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS
D. Martyn b Pollock 			11
P. Jaques c Boucher b van der Wath 	94
R. Ponting c Smith b Hall  		 9
A. Symonds c Prince b Steyne 		 7
M. Clarke c Boucher b van der Wath 	34
M. Hussey c Kruger b Hall 		18
B. Haddin b Pollock 			 1
J. Hopes c Both b Hall 			38
B. Lee b Smith 				 6
B. Dorey c Kemp b Hall 			 2
G. McGrath not out 			 2
Extras: (3lb, 13w, 7nb) 		23
TOTAL 					245
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17, 2-55, 3-85, 
4-172, 5-177, 6-181, 7-208, 8-221, 9-238, 10-245.
Overs: 49.2
BOWLING: S. Pollock 10-2-31-2(1w), 
S. Steyne 5-0-58-1(7nb, 2w), A. Hall 9.2-0-35-4 (1w), 
G. Kruger 6-0-35-0(6w), J. Botha 10-0-47-0, 
J. van der Wath 5-0-21-2 (1w), G. Smith 4-0-15-1(2w).

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS
G. Smith c Haddin b Lee                	 9
B. Dippenaar b Lee                    	41
A. Hall b Lee                          	 1
H. Gibbs lbw b Hogg                   	39
A. Prince b Lee                       	21
M. Boucher lbw b Hogg                    5
J. Kemp b Lee                          	 3
J. van der Wath c Haddin b Hogg        	 0
S. Pollock c Haddin b Dorey           	46
J. Botha not out                      	15
G. Kruger c Symonds b McGrath          	 0
Extras (1b, 2lb, 2w, 1nb) 		 6
TOTAL                                 	186
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-12, 2-16, 3-84, 
4-114, 5-119, 6-123, 7-123, 8-124, 9-185, 10-186.
BOWLING: B. Lee 10-1-22-5 (2w), 
G. McGrath 9-2-35-1 (1nb), B. Dorey 9-1-51-1, 
J. Hopes 7-1-28-0, B. Hogg 10-0-32-3, 
A. Symonds 2-0-15-0.
Overs: 47
Man of the Match: Brett Lee (AUS)