By Rajiv Bisnauth
A resilient South Africa pulled off a spirited 47-run win over World one-day champions Australia in a low-scoring thriller in the third game of the Ballr tri-series last evening at the Providence National Stadium. The game was the final one of the Guyana leg of the tournament.Defending a 189-run total, the Proteas came up with a spirited bowling display to skittle out their opponents for 142 in 34.2 overs

to snatch a spectacular win.
Despite their batting limitations, the total was enough to hand South Africa their first victory in the tournament.
The wickets were shared equally in both departments, and barring Aaron Finch’s 103-ball 72, none of the Australia batsmen could make an impact against the South Africa bowlers, who came up with a lion-hearted effort.
Kagiso Radaba was the more consistent of the two pacers, claiming 3-13 while Wayne Parnell had 2-23. In the spin department, left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso claimed (2-26), leg-spinner Imran Tahir (2-39), and Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi, who was given an ODI debut and was included at the expense Kyle Abbott had (1-36).
Things hadn’t looked particularly promising for South Africa when they batted. Australia made just one change, giving Mitchell Starc a rest and Nathan Coulter-Nile an opportunity as they turned in a sound bowling and fielding performance in restricting the Proteas to one more run than they did Friday last against West Indies when they were bowled out for 188.
While the Australian spinners took four wickets for 112 runs in 26 overs after AB de Villiers chose to bat first on what he expected to be a slow and low surface, it was the pacers Josh Hazlewood (2-30) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-38), who created the misery by removing South Africa’s best batsmen.
The bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to unsettle the Proteas rhythm, as they never really took charge. The batsmen showed lack of application and were at one stage in danger of being bowled out for under 150, but a fighting knock from Farhaan Behardien towards the end lifted them to a modest total.
Behardien was the top-scorer with 62, his fifth ODI fifty to save the Proteas after they slipped to 112-6.
Opener Quinton de Kock kick-started the innings with a brace of boundaries and one imperious six over midwicket off Coulter-Nile, but the Australians successfully reviewed umpire Joel Wilson decision to send the ominous looking de Kock back to the pavilion in Hazlewood’s fourth over.
Hashim Amla, who was somewhat circumspect right from the start, was accompanied by Rilee Roussouw, but Steve Smith made the early change after Coulter-Nile first three overs leaked 25 runs.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was introduced in the eight over and after eleven balls he trapped Roussouw leg before wicket. The decision was reviewed, but umpire’s call on impact leave South Africa at 41-2 in 9.5 overs.
The Proteas two most experienced players, Amla and AB de Villiers joined forces and the pair played well within themselves and were mindful of the challenging batting conditions to compiled 40 for the third wicket, with Amla picking up a few boundaries whenever the bowlers did err in their length.
However, Amla was run out in suicidal fashion which eventually shattered the Proteas possibility of amassing a huge total.
Coulter-Nile, who had little luck in his opening spell, returned in the 23rd over and claimed the wickets of de Villiers (22) and JP Duminy (13). Both batsmen had their off stumps cartwheeling.
If the Proteas thought there would be respite with Coulter-Nile out of the attack, they were wrong as Hazlewood returning for another spell and immediately uprooted the off-stump of Parnell.
Behardien and Phangiso attempted a rescue mission, but with run-scoring became increasingly difficult, the pair could only managed 37 in 13.1 overs when Phangiso was dismissed.
Behardien and Tahir went in the final over to Glenn Maxwell.
A breathtaking burst of fast bowling from Parnell and Radaba had Australia 21-3 after eight overs.
Parnell, who was brought in to replace the injured Chris Morris removed danger man David Warner and skipper Smith and between overs while Radaba bowled Usman Khawaja.
Shamsi, and Tahir then reduced Australia at 72-5 with the wickets of Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh.
While most of the Australia top and middle order had no momentum and looked rather like cubs in the headlights, opener Finch kept up with the run rate without a hint of panic. He reached his fifty from 58 balls, with thee of his seven boundaries went over the ropes.
Australia then lost their remaining five wickets for 70 runs, including Finch, with Radaba, Tahir and Phangiso accounted for those wickets.
The tournament moves to Warner Park St Kitts.

SOUTH AFRICA innings
H. Amla run out (Smith/Finch) 35
Q de Kock† lbw b Hazlewood 18
R. Rossouw lbw b Lyon 7
AB de Villiers* b Coulter-Nile 22
JP Duminy b Coulter-Nile 13
F Behardien b Maxwell 62
W. Parnell b Hazlewood 2
A. Phangiso c Hazlewood b Zampa 9
K. Rabada not out 15
Imran Tahir c Coulter-Nile b Maxwell 0
T .Shamsi not out 0
Extras: (lb 1, w 5) 6
Total : (9 wickets; 50 overs) 189
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-41, 3-81, 4-97, 5-104, 6-112, 7-149, 8-188, 9-188
Bowling: J. Hazlewood 10-3-20-2, N. Coulter-Nile 10-2-38-2, N. Lyon 10-0-40-1, A Zampa 10-0-46-1, M. Marsh 4 0 18 0, A Finch 3-0-11-0, G Maxwell 3-0-15-2

AUSTRALIA innings
DA Warner lbw b Parnell 1
AJ Finch c de Villiers b Phangiso 72
U. Khawaja b Rabada 2
S. Smith* lbw b Parnell 8
G. Maxwell lbw b Shamsi 3
M. Marsh c †de Kock b Imran Tahir 8
M. Wade† c †de Kock b Rabada 2
N. Coulter-Nile b Rabada 0
A Zampa lbw b Imran Tahir 0
N. Lyon lbw b Phangiso 30
J. Hazlewood not out 11
Extras: (lb 5) 5
Total: (all out; 34.2 overs) 142
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-10, 3-21, 4-47, 5-72, 6-83, 7-85, 8-90, 9-113, 10-142
Bowling: K Rabada 7-1-13-3, W. Parnell 6-1-23-2, Imran Tahir 8-0-39-2, A. Phangiso 5.2-0-26-2, T Shamsi 8-1-36-1.