Watch the highlights of Australia vs South Africa 1st Match WSC 1993-94 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 1st ODI match played between South Africa and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne on 09th December 1993.
A brilliant fielding from Jonty Rhodes, Kepler Wessels' half-century and All-round display by Hansie Cronje's two wickets and with a unbeaten 91 helped to South Africa morale-boosting seven-wicket victory over Australia in the opening match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Australia 105 for 1 to scored 189 for all-out in 45.5 overs with top scorer by Debutant Michael Slater - who scored 73 off 69-balls on his debut ODI match - including 8-fours & a six with strike rate of 105.79.
Steve Waugh cracked a 33 off 54-balls including a boundary, Mark Taylor struck 30 off 58-balls included a four and Ian Healy scored a unbeaten 21 off 37-balls without a boundary.
South Africa best bowler by Fannie de Villiers picked up 3-wickets for 30-runs in 7.5-overs, Hansie Cronje took 2-wickets and one for Pat Symcox - Richard Snell.
South Africa chase down the target of 190 for 3 in 48.4 overs with top scorer by Hansie Cronje cracked a unbeaten 91 off 147-balls, Kepler Wessels struck 70 off 118-balls including 4-fours and Jonty Rhodes hit a unbeaten 20 off 16-balls contained a boundary.
Australia best bowler by Craig McDermott captured 2-wickets for 31-runs in 10-overs including a maiden with economy rate of 3.10 and Shane Warne took one-wicket.
Hansie Cronje named Player of the match for his match-winning all-round display of scoring a career-best unbeaten 91 off facing 147-balls including 5-fours after taking 2-wickets.
This match reported by The Canberra Times Staff (Third Party Reference from The Canberra Times)
Australia came back down to earth as South Africa scored a morale-boosting seven-wicket victory in the opening World Series Cup one-day cricket international at the MCG.
Brilliant fielding from Jonty Rhodes and methodical batting by its top order helped South Africa to bring up its first tour win in front of 58,030 people.
After being set a disappointing total of 190, South Africa achieved the target with relative ease with eight balls to spare.
Man of the match Hansie Cronje was unbeaten on 91, his highest one-day score, with Jonty Rhodes making a valuable 20 not out.
Cronje figured in a 140-run second-wicket partnership with skipper Kepler Wessels (70), which went a long way towards disproving the belief that South Africa's batting was weak.
South Africa's fight-back in the field earlier in the day brought back memories of its sterling efforts in reaching the World Cup semi-finals in Australia and New Zealand last year.
Australia appeared to be cruising towards a large total when Michael Slater and Mark Taylor scored at more than five runs an over in a century partnership.
But two magical run-outs and some sensible, accurate bowling triggered a batting collapse.
Australia went from 0-105 to 4-119 in 20 minutes and never really recovered.
Rhodes, whom many believe is the equal to Mark Waugh as the best fieldsman in the world, ran out Boon (1) and Steve Waugh (33) with direct hits on the stumps.
The exciting cover fieldsman took centre stage after spinner Pat Symcox completed a juggling caught and bowled to dismiss Australia's top scorer Michael Slater, who hit 73 off 69 deliveries in an outstanding one-day debut.
One run later with the score on 106, Rhodes threw down the stumps from side-on to Boon's disbelief.
Rhodes dived and scooped the ball up in one action to catch Boon well short of his ground although a video decision was needed because umpire Bill Sheahan's vision was obscured.
That stunning dismissal, which Australian captain Allan Border described as freakish, lifted South Africa's fielding noticeably and inspired its bowlers, who charged in with renewed vigour.
Richard Snell was one such example and after being hit for 29 runs off three overs came back into the attack to bowl Border.
When Steve Waugh looked set to steer Australia towards the 200 mark, he became another victim of Rhodes, who swooped on the ball and caught him out of his ground when he backed up too far down the wicket.
Australia made South Africa's task a lot easier by not batting out its 50 overs. Fanie de Villiers dis- missed tail-enders Craig McDermott and Glenn McGrath with successive balls.
Slater's innings stood out like a sore thumb - he hit eight of the 10 fours in Australia's innings and also helped himself to a massive six over extra cover off Cronje's bowling.
Despite the early loss of Andrew Hudson for four, and some nervous moments when they had to score at almost a run a ball late in the innings, the South Africans always appeared in control in their pursuit of a modest target.
Wessels and Cronje did not give a chance in their 140-run partnership which, although boring to the crowd, gave the South Africans a firm foundation for a successful tour.
With the South African bats taking few risks, the large crowd grew restless and police had to apprehend six pitch invaders.
Leg-spinner Shane Warne was not introduced until midway through the South African innings but he did enough to suggest he can make the transition from the five-day game, finishing with 1-43 off 10 overs. He dismissed Daryll Cullinan for a duck and served his captain well, with Craig McDermott (2-31) and Glenn McGrath, who bowled tightly, conceding only 28 runs off his 8.4 overs.
Warne came into the side after off-spinner Tim May was ruled out because of a hamstring injury sustained at training.
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