McKenzie's men wore the spring smiles
SOURCE: IOL - 18/9/2002 (Thanks Sabina)

South Africa 'A' saved the best till last when a magnificent unbeaten century by opener Andrew Hall, as well as disciplined bowling and fielding, enabled them to thrash their Australian counterparts by eight wickets at the Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

Facing a modest Australian total of 199 all out - the first time the visitors have been dismissed in the series - Hall blasted an unbeaten 118 in 122 balls, including 16 fours and a six.

Hall, who was brutally efficient in punishing the bad ball, shared in an opening partnership of 135 with Loots Bosman (42), and when Neil McKenzie finished the match off with a straight six, South Africa 'A' still had 10 overs and five balls in hand.

"It was the first time (in the series) we managed a good all-round performance," said a delighted Hall after he had been awarded the man of the match prize. The Alberton all-rounder's opening assault on the fiery Brad Williams was particularly destructive as the blond strike bowler was smashed for 31 in his first four overs.

Although the Aussies dominated the seven-match series, winning it 5-1 (with one match rained out), it was Neil McKenzie's men who wore the spring smiles on Wednesday.

On a lovely warm day enjoyed by a crowd of 3 300 at the splendidly refurbished Oval, McKenzie won his fifth toss of the series, and it proved by far his most influential call.

The Aussies soon found themselves on the rack batting on a softish pitch encouraging seam movement for the South African pacemen who revelled in the conditions. The early moisture in the air also enabled Steve Elworthy and David Terbrugge to swing the ball appreciably and batting was far from easy early on.

Elworthy, who bowled superbly for his 2-29 in eight overs, made an immediate breakthrough, capturing the wicket of Greg Blewett as he edged an outswinger to Justin Kemp at slip. But it was Terbrugge who struck the major blow soon afterwards, as man-of-the-series Justin Langer clipped him off his toes straight to Ashwell Prince at backward square leg. At 9-2 in the sixth over, Australia were getting the sort of stuttering start that had hobbled the South Africans throughout the series.

After that, the Australians only really increased their momentum in the second half of their innings after hitting the halfway mark at 89-3. This time, however, the Australian middle-order batsmen were not allowed to get away from the South Africans with only a staid fourth-wicket partnership of 62 in 94 balls between Michael Hussey (57) and Simon Katich (31) bettering 50.

Ryan Campbell's aggressive 34 in 37 balls hinted briefly at an Australian revival, but when he holed out to Elworthy at long-off off the bowling of Robin Peterson, Australia's race was run.