TAMWORTH’S two cricketing stars – Josh Hazlewood and Erin Osborne – were in the One Day International wickets on Sunday, although they had contrasting results.
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In Bowral, Erin Osborne, a South Tamworth Cricket Club product, took 2-51 from her 10 overs as Australia cruised to a third straight ODI win over the West Indies on Bradman Oval.
Australia won that final game in the series by eight wickets, restricting the Windies to 7-220 and then reaching their target with almost seven overs to spare after player of the match, Meg Lanning, had scored 135 off 127 balls. Lanning and Elyse Perry (64no) combined in a 204-run partnership.
Over in Perth, Josh Hazlewood had played just his third ODI on Friday in a victory for Australia but had to settle for a three wicket loss at the WACA on Sunday night.
However, he finished with 5-31 from his 9.4 overs to give Australia hope of an unlikely win against the Proteas.
Australia had made just 154 and the South Africans were cruising when Hazlewood struck to dismiss Faf du Plessis and Farhaan Barhardien with successive balls.
While he missed that hat-trick ,the Bendy boy had another shot at three in a row later in the evening after he dismissed AB de Villers and Vernon Philander with successive balls.
As a junior Hazlweood was a young star for Old Boys and scored a first grade century before heading to Sydney.
Injuries have derailed his career over the past four seasons, but strong and healthy now he could be bowling himself into Australia’s first Test team to play the Indians in Brisbane.
While Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitch Marsh showcased their undoubted potential, it mattered little as South Africa cruised to a three-wicket win.
Morne Morkel was the South African hero with career-best figures of 5-21, while Dale Steyn chipped in with three wickets and Vernon Philander was at his menacing and miserly best.
Steyn and Philander usually combine for the new-ball duties, but Morkel thrived when he was thrust into the role on Sunday.
The 30-year-old removed David Warner in the first over, before snaring the scalps of Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson later in the innings.
Morkel said his promotion to new-ball duties was all about experimenting ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“The most important thing about this tour is working towards the World Cup and trying different things,” Morkel said.
“On any given day, a guy like Dale or Vern might get a flu or a tummy illness and be unable to step up.
“It (taking the new ball) is the sort of role I enjoy doing as well.
“I got the opportunity to go with the new ball up front and I’m happy I could do well for the team.”
In the absence of injured skipper Michael Clarke, Australia’s batting line-up crumbled on the way to a paltry total of 154.
South Africa reached their victory target with 134 balls to spare to level the five-match series at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s clash in Canberra.
Warner’s dismissal for a duck sparked the carnage on Sunday, but Morkel said the Australian opener wasn’t the only threat South Africa had to worry about.
“They bat quite low down. Even Nathan Coulter-Nile at 10 is a very dangerous player,” Morkel said.
