06 March 2014

3rd Test, South Africa versus Australia, day 5

Result: Australia won by 245 runs, clinch the series 2-1.

Australian 1st innings:
7/494 from 127.4 overs
Michael Clarke 161*, David Warner 135, Steven Smith 84, Shane Watson 40
JP Duminy 4-73

South African 1st innings:
287 all out from 82.5 overs
Faf du Plessis 67, Alviro Petersen 53
Mitchell Johnson 4-42, Ryan Harris 3-63, James Pattinson 2-77


Australian 2nd innings:
5/303 dec.
David Warner 145, Steven Smith 36*
Kyle Abbott 3-61


South African 2nd innings:
265 all out chasing 511 runs for victory after 134.3 overs
Vernon Philander 53*
Ryan Harris 4-32, Mitchell Johnson 3-92, James Pattinson 2-62


Ryan Harris, you bloody beauty! Australia, you f***in' beauty! Number 2 on the Test ranks. The overall mission has cleared another objective. We're above India now. Always good to be ahead of them. 

Beating South Africa is always a mighty satisfying feeling, but after being smashed at St Georges, it was quite a remarkable effort our boys delivered to take them down and win 2-1, after crushing England 5-0.

There will be some tired bodies after a very draining day both physically and psychologically at Newland's.

One man in particular is Ryan Harris, and despite David Warner's elite performance with the bat (seriously, those stats of his are ridiculously brilliant for the series) and having climbed 5th on the ICC Test Batting Ranks; Ryano delivered a spell of bowling which will resonate in the hearts of many a cricket tragic for years to come.

Ryano is now second on the ICC Test Bowling Ranks, behind South African legend Dale Steyn.

Here's my piece on Facebook I wrote about Ryano. I feel no need to write much more as this series and Test speaks for itself. I am very, very proud of my team.

This bloke will be remembered by me (and I hope most of you too) as an Australian fast bowling legend. I freaking love the dude! 

Ryan James Harris (Baggy Green #413), what a sporting inspiration he's been. 

Down and out, made comebacks, won us massive matches, and even with psychological battles and physical toils that would make most men break down, he instead broke through the pain to ensure he gave histeam and the supporters an elite performance. 

Cricket is tough and Ryan Harris is a true Test cricketer, a fast bowler who really had so much more to offer the game, but injury does this too many a player. His stats came in for the 3rd Test at 7/95, which has boosted his to 2nd on the ICC Test Bowling Ranks. Respect!

Whether he plays again for us or not is mostly dependent on how his knee operation and rehab goes, so I am wishing him all the best outcomes possible. Salutations champ. 

To get 100 Test wickets, win your team a Test match and series against the number 1 ranked team, while leaving behind an epic performance to remember, job done in my eyes.


Hope he returns. Congrats boys.

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