Powered by a tidy bowling performance, South Africa registered a comprehensive seven wicket win over Australia in a crucial tie here on Sunday. With this win, South Africa has leveled the five-match one-day international (ODI) series at 1-1.

Batting first, the star-studded Aussie batting line-up started a disastrous start as they lost half of their side of mere 19 runs. From Australia, Callum Ferguson scored the highest 50 runs while Mitchell Johnson also contributed a useful 30 runs for the team. Both Ferguson and Johnson scored a crucial 63 runs partnership for the seventh wicket.

It is Australia’s lowest first-innings total in a non-reduced 50-over ODI.

The 19-year-old left-arm swing bowler Wayne Parnell claimed his career-best figures to help bundle Aussies out for a small total. Playing his second ODI, Parnell took four for 25 in eight overs. He was equally well supported by his team mate fast bowler Dale Steyn. Steyn claimed four for 27.  

Chasing a victory target of 132 runs in the allotted 50 overs, South Africans reached their target with seven wickets in hand and 23.4 overs to spare.

However, the home side also had a bad start. It lost Herschelle Gibbs for just 2 runs. African skipper Graeme Smith (40) and Jacques Kallis (31) posted a run-a-ball second-wicket stand of 69 and it was left to AB de Villiers to steer the hosts to their target with an unbeaten 36.

After his spectacular bowling performances, an elated Parnell said, “This is with the big boys you know and doing it against Australia is just massive."

"Bringing the ball back in to the right-hander, that has always been with me. Lately I have worked on the one going across the right-hander”, added the new bowling sensation.

Scores in Brief:

Australia: (131 all out, Ferguson 50, Johnson 30, Steyn 4/27, Parnell 4/25);

South Africa: (132/3 in 26.2 overs, Smith 40, AB de Villiers not out 36, Johnson 2/47).