De Villiers the key man in South Africa’s historic win

AB de Villiers erased a lingering hoodoo for South Africa as they sealed their most satisfying win with a record-breaking chase of 4 for 414 that buried Australia. Since coming back into the international arena in the early 1990s, South Africa have had the most trouble with Australia and finally conquered them, with de Villiers scoring 106 and Jacques Kallis and the debutant JP Duminy producing nerveless half-centuries.

In a thrilling and stomach-turning adventure in the top-of-the-table contest, South Africa registered the second-biggest successful pursuit in history and did it so comfortably that they could have got 500. Australia’s only answer was Mitchell Johnson, who took a career-best 11 for 159, but the rest of the performance was as worrying as South Africa’s was outstanding.

South Africa finished with more than their chests in front to capture an invaluable 1-0 lead in the three-match series, which resumes in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Smith helped reduce the original target to 187 for the final day and de Villiers and Kallis chipped away at it during a gripping 124-run stand that dented the Australians. de Villiers’ then grabbed Duminy, who hit the winning runs to finish on 50 not out, and together they took care of the next 111. At the finish, when Duminy pushed a three through cover, he jumped as high as the whole team felt.

De Villiers, who survived some shaky moments, showed he would not be an easy wicket in the first session and assumed the main responsibilities following Kallis’ departure half an hour before lunch. In tense times neither de Villiers nor Duminy, experiencing the most severe pressure on debut, showed the strain.

De Villiers could have been run-out on 18, edged short of Brad Haddin off Siddle in the first session and survived again shortly after lunch. Lee had a chance to catch him on 67, but it sped through his raised hands and went for four to mid-on. Fortune is needed to succeed in a chase like this; in the field the Australians considered themselves unlucky. Johnson was again Australia’s major weapon and collected his 11th victim of an outstanding game when he picked up Kallis, who was amazingly solid and constructive during his 57. While Johnson captured 3 for 98, Lee had 1 for 73 and there were no other contributors.

As Kallis left slowly after a wide drive, there were feelings that it could be the end of South Africa’s charge. There were still more than 100 runs to go and the rock had departed. De Villiers and Duminy kept the dream alive, with de Villiers picking gaps for ones and twos, and cutting hard for his fours.

(c) Cricinfo