Brilliant Watson stars in Australia win

Dilanka Mannakkara reporting from R.Premadasa stadium

It was the Shane Watson show on offer once again as he delivered yet another outstanding performance both with ball and bat to power the dominating Australians to a comprehensive eight wicket win against a “Choking” South African side. Watson’s brilliant all round performance further strengthened Australia’s entry to the semi-finals and they will look to complete a whitewash in the Super eights when they meet Pakistan on Tuesday.

Watson’s rampaging 70 of 47 balls set up their successful chase of 147, as the Australians cruised to victory with 14 balls to spare. The South Africans were mediocre with the bat and sloppy in the field, and while the result has not yet knocked them out of the tournament, they will need other results to pave their way if they are to progress to the semi-finals. For the fourth time from Australia’s four games in this World T20, Watson was Man of the Match. He ended the game on top of the tournament run tally and wicket list.

In their chase of 147, Australia lost the early wicket of Dave Warner for five but Watson and Hussey did the early repair work for them and then put the pedal down to further acceleration.

Watson in particular was in supreme form as he hit Morne Morkel for three fours in one over and started dishing out the monstrous sixes off Robin Peterson. Watson had a reprieve on 52, as he skied Peterson and was put down by Parnell running in from long-off.

Eventually Watson fell, caught by Parnell at long-off from the bowling of Peterson, oddly enough - but by then he had added another 18 runs and put Australia within sight of victory.

Watson hit eight fours and two sixes in his brutal knock of 70 while Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey unleashed his class and authority with a fine 45 of 37 balls.

Australia won the toss and elected to field first and the inclusion of Xavier Dohetry reaped immediate benefits as he bowled Richard Levi from the third ball of the game. Dohetry was included at the expense of Dan Christian who didn’t make any significant contribution with bat or ball during the previous games. Dohetry found some lovely drift as the Proteas batsmen struggled against him throughout the innings.

Doherty struck again in his second over when he tossed the ball up and found some turn off the pitch and Jacques Kallis (6) edged behind.

Amla departed for 17 when he tried to hook Watson and gloved behind, and at 33 for 3 the South Africans were in trouble.

All rounder Robin Peterson ended up as the highest scorer for the Proteas with a blistering 32 of 19 balls with 6 fours.Farhaan Behardien ably supported Peterson with a fine 31 as they bailed out the Proteas from a struggling position of 86 for 5.Watson returned with figures of 2 for 29 of his 4 overs while Dohetry had 3 for 20 of his 4 overs.