Australia vs South Africa, 3rd ODI at Canberra - As it Happened

Right then! End of a game which could have possibly gone down the wire, if AB had not played that shot. Australia will be happy with the win and look to take this momentum to the MCG and try and seal the series. South Africa will come back hard and aim to take this to the final on Sunday. Total excitement! Do join us on Friday, 21st November, 2014 at 0320 GMT (0850 IST) for the 4th ODI at the MCG! Until then, Adios! Take Care!

Victorious Aussie captain GEORGE BAILEY congratulates the commentators for nominating Smith as the Man Of The Match, commenting that it was a phenomenal innings. Adds that the openers got a brilliant start with Finch and Warner timing it beautifully and Smith coming in and playing that kind of knock, taking the score to 330 which took the game away from the Proteas. Further says that Smith is a great cricketer to play with and today he was timing the ball from the word go. Also says that he knew that SA would come out hard but credits his bowlers for coming back after a rough start. He says that he loves to come over here, good crowd, gives an English countryside-like feeling and is a good place to play cricket.

South African captain AB de Villiers says all the Aussie batsmen batted well, setting it up nicely. Adds that all the while he thought that they did not have new batters at the crease at any time. Praises Steven Smith for the way he finished the game. Blames himself for South Africa losing their way during the run chase with the target in sight. Adds that the key to that shot was to take LBW out of the way. Technically, he should have come more forward and get more outside the line of off stump. On Amla, he says that when he is out of form, it is for a very short period of time and when he is scoring runs, South Africa's chances of winning are higher. On the MCG, he says that it is a big ground to play cricket. There are always big crowds over there. Takes a deep sigh and says that they are 2-1 down, so hopes to win at Melbourne and then take it to the final at Sydney.

STEVEN SMITH HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. He says that Finch played very well. Feels that the century stand laid the platform for a big total. On his freakish swing through square leg off a Morne Morkel free hit, he says that it was a free range to do whatever you wanted to do with it. Adds that the batsmen practice very hard in the nets and hopefully if they can bring it out in the game, the team can do well. Informs that once the ball got old, it got soft and started reversing. On the bowling, he says that Hazlewood is bowling well and is good to see Starc back in the side. Is happy with the way the Aussies bowled, the way they hit their lengths, the way they were reversing the ball, they were picking wickets in the middle overs and slowing South Africa down.

Then came the cheeky paddle of AB, or rather, an attempted one which he missed and was trapped LBW. Amla fell soon after and Miller got a rough call, which took the wings out of the chase. Australia will be reasonably happy with the second half of the run chase as the bowlers slowed down the pace considerably, after a hurricane start. Starc did well on his comeback, taking 4 wickets while Hazlewood impressed again, taking 3 wickets, including one of the mighty Amla.

A 73-run win sounds like a comprehensive one but it didn't look like till AB de Villiers was batting out there. The Protea opening pair of Amla and de Kock were making the target of 330 look like a mockery, smashing the bowling at will and comfortably ahead of the required run-rate. Then de Kock fell and so did du Plessis, but Amla and de Villiers kept the Aussies at bay.

Well, the Aussies are congratulating one another and even the umpires! Word is that AB de Villiers came out and informed that Imran Tahir will not bat. So that is it. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 73 RUNS, go 2-1 up in the series and also move to second spot in the ICC ODI Rankings.

OUT! Another one goes down! A full ball outside off, Behardien backs away to the leg side and looks to go over mid off but once again, finds Aaron Finch, like Steyn found Marsh in the previous over. Australia crushing the Proteas here.

Length ball outside off, Behardein looks to play it over the slips but misses and and through to the keeper.

FOUR! That is swung hard! A length ball on middle, Behardien swings hard and gets it cleanly over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.

A short ball outside off, punched straight to cover.

Length outside off, Morkel stays inside the line and pushes but is beaten.

Excellent yorker on middle, Morkel just about digs it out and it bounces over the stumps!

MORNE MORKEL walks in now.

OUT! Taken! Steyn's fun ends. A length ball outside off Steyn backs away and looks to go over mid off but instead scoops it straight t Mitchell Marsh at mid off. Marsh hobbles a bit, is there a sign of another hamstring injury?

Full toss outside off, Behardein shuffles across and looks to scoop it over, but gets no contact whatsoever. They cross for a single.

The batsman has driven it through mid-on. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.

Steyn taking the bowler on! Full on middle, Steyn makes room and slogs this over the long on fence for a maximum.

FOUR! Nicely done, Full on middle, Steyn lofts this over the mid wicket fence for a boundary.

Short outside off, Steyb lets it go through to the keeper.

Driven through mid-off by the batsman.

The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the backfoot. They pick up a single.

Dale Steyn walks in.

OUT! Philander departs! Short on middle, Philander goes for the pull shot but does not time it well. The fielder in the deep makes good ground and takes a comfortable catch at deep square leg.

Bouncer! The batsman does well to evade it.

The batsman has driven it through mid-off.

The ball takes the outside edge goes towards the slip region. The batsmen have run through for a single.

The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

FOUR! What a shot! FUll on off, the batsman carves this one through to the cover fence for a boundary.

The batsman plays a pull shot to this short delivery.

Good length on middle, defends it straight back to the bowler.

Full on middle and leg, Philander plays it toward the leg side.

The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads.

Banged it in short and goes well above the batsman's head. The square leg umpire declares it as a wide.

Full on off, Played straight back to the bowler.

Outside off, played to point for a single.

Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Philander walks out in the middle.

Out! LBW! Yorker on middle and leg, squares Miller up as he tries to squeeze this to the leg side. He is struck on the pads in the bargain. The Aussies go up in appeal. The umpire raises his finger and signals out.

Good length on middle, Behardien drives this to covers for a single.

Length on off, Miller cuts it to point.

Starc comes back on.

Full on middle, Flicked away by Miller to mid wicket.

Miler defends it off the back foot.

The batsman failed to make contact and was hit low on the pads. They pick up a single. Leg byes given by the umpire.

Fullish on middle. Miller flicks it off his pads to mid wicket for a single.

Short and a touch outside off, Miller tries to play at it but misses and goes through to the keeper.

DAVID MILLER walks in at number 7, replacing Amla.

OUT! Lock, stock and barrell! Amla is gone now! Too much risky cricket. Now Hazlewood keeps it straight, Amla backs away and looks to hack it over the off side and misses. Hazlewood doesn't.

The batsman has lofted that over mid wicket. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Played to the point region by the batsman.

A touch short again, Farhaan stays back and works it through mid-wicket for a run.

Length outside off, pushed straight to cover.

FARHAAN BEHARDIEN walks in next at number 6, replacing de Villiers.

OUT! The decision stays as it is and it is plumb LBW! Richardson has struck and the Manuka Oval roars with joy! Keep it straight, keep it straight, say the captains. And Richardson did exactly that. AB went for a wild slog, getting across to his off stump. Now the thing is, when you pull these off, they look good, else you look dumb. And de Villiers missed. Is hit on the pads. The umpire raises his finger and de Villiers goes for the review. Three reds. Pitched in line, impact in line, going on to hit the stumps. Massive wicket.

AB de Villiers has been given out LBW! He is reviewing it...

Short outside off, Amla guides this down to third man.

A short delivery which has been pulled away. A diving effort by the fielder; however he couldn't hold on to it. Two runs added to the total.

Good length on middle, Amla plays this towards mid-wicket. Amla gets his 17th ton.

Length ball outside off, Amla flays but misses. Close call!

Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Drives this one to covers but is well fielded.

Short on middle, de Villiers comes down the track and plays it towards mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

It's a clean strike over mid wicket. by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Full toss on off, de Villiers shuffles across and plays this one to mid wicket for a couple of runs.

Full on off, Amla drives this one to mid off.

Banged it in short, de Villiers comes down the track and plays this into the ground toward mid wicket.

The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They manage to come back for the second.

Short outside off, cut through point for a single.

The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.

FOUR! Lucky again! Full on middle, de Villiers looks to play inside out but again lands up mistiming it towards the point fence.

FOUR! What a shot! Full on middle, de Villiers gets down and paddle sweeps it over short fine leg!

FOUR! Lucky! Full on middle, De Villiers looks for the lofted shot but ends up miss timing it towards point for a boundary.

Short and wide on off, Amla plays this to cover.

The batsman has just lofted it over mid off. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Short on leg, De Villiers pulls this away to mid wicket.

Amla gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. One run added to the total.

Good length on middle, De Villiers comes down the track and pushe it towards long on.

Fullish on off, De Villiers plays this to mid on.

Length ball on middle, De Villiers defends this one off the back foot.

Short on off, Amla guides this down to short third man

It's time for drinks.

SIX! Over-pitched on middle, De Villiers goes down on one knee and and lofts this over deep sqaure leg for a mighty maximum.

FOUR! Effortless! Short on middle, De Villiers makes some room and carves this over mid wicket for a boundary.

Over-pitched on middle, De Villiers plays this across to mid wicket.

Full on off, Amla drives this one down to mid off for a single.

Chips down and bunts it hard down to long off for a single.

FOUR! Magnificent shot! A slower and fuller ball outside off, de Villiers leans forward and slaps it over covers.

Shuffles in his crease and tries to sweep a very full ball around off, de Villiers tries to sweep it away but the ball strikes him on the front pad. There is a massive appeal from Marsh but the umpire shakes his head. The replays show that it was off the inside edge towards square leg for a single.

Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total.

Another couple as Amla lofts it over mid on.

Back of a length on off, Amla stands back and punches it through covers, Warner covers a lot of ground from long off and saves a couple of runs.

Almost! A slower ball on off, Amla looks to loft it over mid off but connects off the toe end of the bat and lands just short of Starc at mid off.

Back of a length on middle, Amla looks to force it down the ground but gets an inside edge towards mid on.

de Villiers drives it back to the bowler.

Fuller on off, Amla gets under it and lofts it over the bowler's head. They take a triple.

Fuller on middle, Amla mistimes his drive back to the bowler.

Fuller outside off, Amla stands tall and punches it through covers.

Amla clips it through square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! CLASS! Good length outside off, Amla carves it through the extra cover region for a boundary. The fielder from mid off did give chase but that was never going to be stopped.

WATSON comes back on.

Fuller outside off, de Villiers shuffles across and mistimes his defense towards the off side.

Fullish on middle, clipped through mid-wicket where Finch fumbles and allows a single.

de Villiers shuffles across and punches it through covers for a single.

Fuller outside off, driven through covers for a single.

FOUR! Shot! Fuller on off, de Villiers comes down and hits it over the mid off region for a boundary. That is well played!

Fuller on off, de Villiers comes down and pushes it towards covers.

de Villiers stays in line and defends it.

On a length outside off, de Villiers comes across and defends it but off the edge.

Fullish outside off, de Villiers pushes it through covers for a couple.

On a length on middle, de Villiers looks to clip it through but misses. Mild appeal turned down.

Fuller outside off, Amla drives it through covers for a single.

Back of a length on off, comes in, Amla defends it to the off side. They think of the single but do not go for it.

AB de Villiers walks in to bat.

OUT! Starc strikes! On a length outside off, Rossouw feels for it and flashes at it. The ball takes the edge through to the keeper who takes a good catch. Starc strikes at the right time for the hosts but that will bring AB de Villiers. The visitors need 182 runs in 132 balls. This is going down the wire.

Fuller outside off, comes in, Rossouw gets an inside edge past the stumps for a couple of runs.

Fuller on off, Rossouw drives it through covers. Hint of reverse swing here. This is good tight bowling from Starc.

Fullish outside off, pushed back to the bowler by Rossouw.

Fuller on off, Rossouw plays it back to the bowler.

Fuller on off, Amla leans forward and clips it to the on side.

Fuller on middle, Amla clips it through the on side for a single.

Fuller on off, Amla wokrs it to mid on.

WIDE! Fuller but on the pads, Amla fails to clip it away. Marsh appeals as the umpire signals it a wide.

Rilee Rossouw comes out to bat.

OUT! du Plessis holes out! Shorter on middle, du Plessis comes down the wicket and connects with his pull shot but the slowness of the pitch does him in and he ends up dragging it towards deep square leg. Warner in the deep does not have to move an inch. du Plessis has been out twice this series now, trying to hook the ball. That was the plan again and he fell for it again. That is a huge wicket!

Fuller outside off, du Plessis pushes it towards point. That one kept low as well.

Fuller outside off, Amla comes forward and works it with his wrists through square leg for a single.

Good length outside off, Amla pushes it to covers.

Shorter on middle, du Plessis comes down to pull but gets hit on his body.

Back of a length outside off, Amla drops it to third man for a single.

Length ball on middle and leg, du Plessis fails to clip it through. The players appeal but the umpire says no. That looked to be sliding down leg.

A tad short outside off, carved past backward point for a single.

On a length on off, comes in, Amla is hit on his pads as he fails to clip it through.

Good length outside off, Amla pushes it through covers.

Good length on the pads, Amla whips it off his hips for a single.

Back of a length on off, du Plessis gets an edge onto his pads and takes a single.

Shorter on middle, Amla pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller on off, Amla spanks it to covers but not in the gap.

du Plessis nudges it through fine leg for a single.

Good length outside off, stays low, du Plessis crouches low and pushes it towards covers.

MARSH called back on for a spell.

Good length on off, du Plessis punches it through the off side for a single.

Pitched up outside off, Amla drives it on the up through covers for a single.

Fullish on off, Amla pushes it through the covers but does not find the gap.

Shorter on the pads, pulled through fine leg for a single.

Amla drives one through wide mid off for a single.

Fullish on off, Amla mistimes his push towards mid off.

RICHARDSON back on.

Amla nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shorter outside off, Amla cuts it hard through the point region for a couple of runs.

Amla comes forward and defends it.

du Plessis punches one through mid-wicket for a single.

du Plessis turns it through the mid-wicket region.

FOUR! Too easy! Fuller on off, du Plessis comes down and knows where he is hitting it and clips it over the mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Amla defends back past the bowler for a single.

Fuller on off, Amla leans forward and defends it off his crease.

du Plessis works one through the mid-wicket region for a single.

Too full outside off, du Plessis looks to dab it through but misses.

FOUR! Lovely shot! du Plessis comes down the wicket, flicks it through square leg region for a boundary. He found the gap there.

Good length outside off, Amla punches it through point for a single.

MARSH comes back on for a bowl.

Shorter on off, du Plessis punches it off his back foot.

Punched off the back foot for a single.

Amla drives one straight back to the bowler.

du Plessis comes forward and clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

du Plessis turns it through mid-wicket off his crease.

Fuller on off, driven through the off side for a single.

Full and well wide outside off, driven uppishly through cover-point for a single to end the over.

Full on middle, pushed with a straight bat past mid on for a single.

Good length on off, du Plessis covers the line and blocks it with ease.

Another flick down to deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length on off, du Plessis stands back tall and punches it through covers for a single.

On middle and leg on a length, Amla continues to work the ball on the leg side for a single.

Back of a length on middle, Amla jumps back and works it away through square leg for a single.

The batsman has played it to the point region.

Back of a length on off, Amla stays back and dabs it to third man for a single.

The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Faf du Plessis is in.

OUT! Hazlewood strikes! Fraction short but well directed across off, de Kock tries to drag it on the leg side with a pull but gets a top edge that goes high up in the air towards third man, Mitchell Marsh runs back a little from short third man, settles under it and takes it in a typical Aussie way, reverse-cup style. Much-needed breakthrough for Australia.

Good length around off, dabbed down to third man for a single.

Drinks Break!

Length ball on off, de Kock strides forward and bunts it back to Watson.

Slower on middle, Amla continues to hang back and pepper the square leg region with a whip.

Fraction short, on the slower side as well, de Kock flat-bats it down to deep square leg for a single.

Another whippy stroke of his hips for a single.

Good length on and around off, de Kock drops it with soft hands on the off side for a quick single.

On a length on middle, Amla stays back and whips it through mid-wicket for one.

Shane Watson back on.

Jumps down and offers a full face of the bat to end the over.

de Kock has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

On the pads, flicked away for a single.

The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Uses his feet and tucks it towards mid-wicket, Smith fumbles to allow them a single.

Chips down and pushes it down to long on for one.

Fuller on off, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller outside off, Amla pushes it to covers.

Amla pushes one through covers but does not find the gap.

Fuller outside off, de Kock drops it to the off side and takes a really quick single.

Amla works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shorter on the body, pulled down to fine leg for a couple of leg byes.

FOUR! Put away! Fuller on middle, de Kock sits low, sweeps it hard over the long leg region for a boundary.

de Kock looks to sweep this one but misses.

26th ODI fifty for Hashim Amla!

FIFTY! Amla punches one through the covers for a single. That is his 5th ODI fifty this year!

Flatter on off, punched through the off side.

Fuller outside off, de Kock gets across and turns it through mid on for a single.

Fuller on off, driven through mid off for a single.

Shorter on off, Amla pulls it through the mid-wicket region for a single.

Fullish outside off, Amla looks to drive on the up but misses. The ball just goes past his inside edge.

Fuller on middle, de Kock comes down and plays it through covers for a single.

Fuller outside off, de Kock drives it through mid on.

Fuller on middle, Amla clips it over mid-wicket region for a single.

Fuller on off, played through mid on.

MITCHELL MARSH comes into the attack.

Shorter outside off, de Kock cuts it to covers for a single.

Amla comes forward and clips it through mid on for a single.

FOUR! QUICK HANDS! Shorter outside off, Amla just waits, waits and waits for the ball to come and then at the last moment, cuts it hard through the point region for a boundary.

Fuller on off, de Kock comes forward and turns it through the mid-wicket region for a single.

Too full on middle, Amla works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shorter outside off, Amla cuts it towards point.

SIX! Put away! Bowls it on the pads, de Kock gets in line and clips it over the long leg region for a maximum. That is poor bowling.

Fuller outside off, Amla drives it through covers.

Amla comes forward and defends it to the on side.

de Kock clips it through the square leg region for a single.

FOUR! Clobbered! Fuller on middle, de Kock slinks down the wicket and hammers it over the mid on region for a boundary.

Good length on off, de Kock flat bats it towards short mid-wicket.

Too full on off, de Kock whips it through mid on for a single.

Floated on middle, Amla leans forward and drives it through covers for a single.

Goes back and cuts it through covers for a single.

de Kock looks to reverse sweep it, connects well but finds the fielder.

Floated on off, de Kock comes forward and turns it through the on side.

Fuller on off, de Kock turns it through mid on but not in the gap.

XAVIER DOHERTY is the new bowler. Time for spin!

On a length outside off, Amla looks to defend but gets a bottom edge which does not carry to the keeper.

FOUR! Well timed! Amla just stands tall and crunches it past mid off for a very good boundary.

Good length on off, Amla stands back and cracks it to point but not in the gap.

Good length on off, Amla works it through moid-wicket off the inside edge for a couple.

Good length on off, Amla pushes it to covers for a single.

Back of a length on off, Amla stands tall and defends it back down the wicket.

Amla pushes it to point for a single.

FOUR! THWACK! Shorter outside off, Amla goes back and just cracks it square of the wicket through point for a magnificent boundary.

Shorter outside off, Amla pulls it towards short fine leg where Doherty does well to field it.

Amla stays in his crease and defends it.

On a length outside off, de Kock looks to work it through mid-wicket but gets a leading edge over covers for a single.

Good length on off, Amla works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Back of a length on off, dabbed down to third man for a single.

de Kock nudges one through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Good length outside off, de Kock time his clip fine past the short fine leg region for a boundary.

On a length on off, de Kock works one through mid on for a couple of runs.

Fuller on off, de Kock drives it back down the wicket.

Fuller on off, worked through square leg for a couple.

KANE RICHARDSON is the new bowler for Australia.

On a length on off, comes in, Amla looks to clip it through the mid-wicket region but fails to do so. Mild appeal turned down since it was a touch high.

Good length outside off, Amla pushes it towards the off side.

Fuller on off, de Kock drives it back down the ground for a single.

Good length outside off, de Kock works it through fine leg for a couple.

Good length outside off, Amla gets in line and tucks it through square leg for a single.

de Kock pushes one through point for a single.

SHANE WATSON into the attack.

FOUR! Fuller on the pads, Amla does not miss out and flicks it over the long leg region for a boundary.

de Kock turns one through mid on for a single as there is a misfield.

Shorter outside off, de Kock looks to work it through mid-wicket but the ball goes over his bat.

Good length outside off, de Kock pushes it towards mid off.

Fuller outside off, de Kock drives it to mid off.

Fuller on off, de Kock comes forward and defends it.

FOUR! Poor ball! Fuller on middle, Amla just gets across and clips it in the air over mid-wicket for a boundary. There was no in the deep and Amla had no intentions of keeping that down.

Too full on middle, de Kock clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

Good length on off, de Kock pushes it back into the pitch.

Too full outside off, de Kock mistimes it back to the bowler.

Fuller outside off, de Kock plays it back to the bowler.

Fuller outside off, de Kock drives it towards covers.

Good length on off, Amla gets in line and defends it.

Shorter outside off, Amla fails to cut it through the off side.

Back of a length on off, Amla stands tall and defends it towards covers.

On a length outside off, Amla looks to go after it but fails to put bat to ball.

Shorter on off, Amla pulls it in the air past square leg for a couple.

FOUR! SHOT! Fuller on middle, Amla clips it through mid-wicket for a boundary. That was really hit well.

Good length on the pads, de Kock turns it through the on side.

BOWLED OFF A NO BALL! Starc spears in the full ball on middle, de Kock looks to heave it over but misses. The ball crashes into the stumps. Good ball to bowl on a free hit.

NO BALL! That's a daddy no ball! Full outside off, de Kock pushes it through covers.

FOUR! EASY PEASY! Shorter on the pads, de Kock pulls it down into the fine leg fence.

de Kock stands tall and defends it back.

Good length on off, de Kock looks to works it through but misses. There is again slight miss-communication problem between Amla and de Kock but no harm done.

Good length on off, de Kock comes forward and defends it.

Amla gets in line and defends one back down the wicket.

FOUR! Class from Amla! Fuller outside off, Amla comes forward and drives it sweetly through the cover-point fence for a boundary.

Fuller on off, Amla pushes it to covers off his crease.

Amla shuffles in line and defends it.

FOUR! Nicely done! Good length outside off, Amla cracks it through the point region for a lovely boundary. That is a superb knock.

Good length outside off, Amla looks to punch it through but is beaten.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD to bowl from the other end with the second new ball.

Length outside off, Amla flays it wide of the point fielder for a single.

Amla stands tall and plays this to point.

Nice timing but almost a mix-up! On a length outside off, de Kock pushes it wide of covers for a couple of runs. They look for the third and there is some doubt over it. de Kock was hesistant but Amla ran through and de Kock completed the third.

Fuller on off, de Kock gets in line and defends it back to the bowler.

Pitched up outside off, de Kock pushes it to covers.

Fuller outside off, Amla drives it through covers for a single.

We're back for the chase! HASHIM AMLA and QUINTON DE KOCK are the two openers for South Africa. Australia start the chase with MITCHELL STARC!