Date-stamped : 13 Oct94 - 10:24 3 Nation One-day Tournament Australia v South Africa, Lahore, 12 October 1994 Australia won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in the opening match of the Triangular Series one-day games at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Australia named a similar side to that which drew the second Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi -- but included off-spinner Gavin Robertson for medium-pacer Joe Angel. South Africa left out opening batsman Andrew Hudson but packed their side with all-rounders. Australia: Mark Taylor, Michael Slater, David Boon, Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh, Ian Healy, Craig McDermott, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Gavin Robertson, 12th man Justin Langer. South Africa: Kepler Wassels, Gary Kirsten, Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes, Brian McMillan, David Richardson, Darryl Cullinan, Craig Mathews, Eric Simmons, Tim Shaw, Fannie de Villiers, 12th man Derek Crookes. Contributred by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@central.sun.com) ====> more Australia atoned in a small way for their disappointing results against Pakistan by retrieving a seemingly lost one-day interna- tional against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium today. Australia managed to defend a meagre score of 6-207 off 50 overs, restrain- ing South Africa to 8-201 in reply, and stranded vice-captain Hansie Cronje on an almost heroic 98 not out. Apart from the fact that it was South Africa`s first appearance on Pakistani soil, or rather in Pakistani dust, it was not a match that will go down in history. The prevailing run rate on the day was around four, which was only half a run per over more than in the second Pakistan v. Australia Test last week. There was no genuine excitement in the match until the last couple of overs. For most of today there were more people, and atmosphere, outside the stadium where there was a fairground, a market, a mosque and a large army camp. Australia`s innings was like so much else in Pakistan, a wondrous thing to behold one moment, non-functioning the next, a muddle overall. Taylor won the toss, batted and played just about his most au- thoritative one-day innings, regularly piercing or lobbing the infielders, outscoring Michael Slater three runs to one and speeding to 50 at run-a-ball. Slater played his sub-role well and at 0-98 in the 25th over, a score of beyond 250 could easily have been anticipated. The innings was turned by Tim Shaw, a 35-year-old exponent of that least glamorous of bowling styles, left-arm orthodox spin. In the space of three overs, he drew both openers far from their creases, beat them in flight and had them stumped, and in the meantime, Mark Waugh (3) had sent a leading edge back to Hansie Cronje. Australia had lost 3-9 and all the momentum the openers had worked up. Steve Waugh rallied the innings again with a hard- struck half-century that was finished by Gary Kirsten`s catch at deep mid-wicket in the last over. His efforts were handicapped by the needless run-outs of David Boon (8) and Michael Bevan (15). Boon backed up too far and was beaten by Shaw`s throw from mid- on, and Bevan was the victim when Waugh dared to run on a ball hit just to the left of Jonty Rhodes at point, off a no-ball. Australia muddled through to 6-207, which looked 30 too few. South Africa`s beginning was as turgid as Australia`s was bright. Gary Kirsten departed in the fourth over for four and Kepler Wessels in the 10th for six, both slashing catches to the wicket- keeper from Australia`s new golden boy, Damien Fleming. Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes gathered 76 in an even hour for the fourth wicket. The Waugh twins accounted for Rhodes and Brian McMillan in quick succession, and South Africa lost their way from there as the attack tightened. Then came a magnificent closing over from strike bowler Criag McDermott. South Africa needed 14 from the final over but Cronje was off strike for the first ball and, aside from one boundary, was powerless to force the victory or a well-deserved century. McDermott yorked tailenders Dave Richardson and Craig Matthews to defy a South African side that seemed certain to be carried to victory by Cronje. Thanks:: Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald. Contributed by David.Mar (mar@physics.su.oz.au)