Australia crush South Africa

Six South Africa batsmen were dismissed without scoring on Tuesday as Australia easily won their triangular series one-day match by eight wickets.

The six ducks equalled Pakistan's world record set in 1987 against England at Edgbaston and equalled by the same country against West Indies in Cape Town in 1992-93.

Paceman Andrew Bichel took five for 19 in South Africa's 106 all out from 38.3 overs in the triangular series limited overs match on Tuesday.

Australia reached 107 for two from 18.4 overs with Mark Waugh returning to form with an unbeaten 55.

Waugh, whose future in the one-day side had been in doubt, reached his 50th half-century in one-day internationals with a square cut for four off the bowling of Lance Klusener in the 17th over. He added 77 for the second wicket with Ricky Ponting (33) before Ponting was bowled by Klusener at 101 for two.

Australia's victory, which included a bonus point for reaching their target within 40 overs, lifted the home side to second place on the table with nine points from five matches.

New Zealand have 12 with three wins from four games and the Proteas have eight after two wins then three straight losses.

RECORD AVOIDED

South Africa were 57 for seven after 25 overs on a seaming pitch but opener Gary Kirsten managed to guide the visiting side past their lowest score in one-day internationals, 69 against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1993-94.

Kirsten was out for 44 at 79 for eight in the 30th over after hitting five boundaries.

The left-hander was lbw to leg-spinner Shane Warne before tailenders Steve Elworthy (18) and Nicky Boje (13 not out) gave the Proteas a three-figure score to defend on a pitch providing assistance to the bowlers.

SIX DUCKS

Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Jonty Rhodes, Pollock, Klusener and Makhaya Ntini each failed to score after Pollock had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Glenn McGrath (3-29) had Gibbs caught behind for a duck in the first over of the match.

Dippenaar followed in the third over when he was caught at first slip by Warne off McGrath with just five runs on the board.

McGrath was following up his four for 30 in Australia's 27-run win over South Africa in Brisbane on Sunday which snapped the home team's three-match losing streak in the series.

Rain delayed play for 42 minutes when the Proteas were 10 for two from five overs. Neil McKenzie and Kirsten tried to rebuild the innings but McKenzie (18), Rhodes and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (1) fell to Bichel in the 17th, 19th and 21st overs.

Pollock lasted only two balls before he was lbw to Bichel and Klusener was lbw to Jason Gillespie in the following over at 50 for seven.

South Africa were forced to leave out leading batsman Jacques Kallis because of an ankle injury. Elworthy, who was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from McGrath, did not field and was taken to hospital for scans.

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Mail Cricket Editor