Australia defeat South Africa in ODI series opener - as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2014/nov/14/australia-v-south-africa-first-odi-live

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10.56pm AEST11:56

Australia win the opening one-day international of the summer by 32 runs

This win was set up by a solid batting display from Australia. David Warner was off to a flyer with his 46, while George Bailey (70), Matthew Wade (35) and Glenn Maxwell (29) booted it home with some lusty blows late in the piece. A chase of 300 was always going to be tough work at the WACA and so it proved for the Proteas.

Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Coulter-Nile were the pick of the bowlers and AB de Villiers (80) predictabally the key wicket in the end. The major sub-plot arising from this game is that Michael CLarke has re-injured his hamstring for the third time in the past few months and is thus in danger of missing the Brisbane Test against India. Expect to hear a bit about that one in the coming weeks.

That’s all from me but thank you for your company and make sure you join us on Sunday for the second game of this series.

10.49pm AEST11:49

WICKET! Tahir c Warner b Maxwell 22 - South Africa all out for 268

Tahir goes for one biff too many and puts it down Warner’s throat at long-off. That is the game after a spirited little wagging of the tail. Nathan Coulter-Nile is a deserving man of the match for his 4-48 from 10 overs, including the crucial wicket of David Miller when he and de Villiers were well set.

10.47pm AEST11:47

48th over: South Africa 268-9 (Morkel 22, Tahir 22)

Now Tahir goes after Marsh and picks up a pair of boundaries.

Things we’ve learned here: AB de Villiers should be batting at 3 or 4 as a non-negotiable; Australia need to find room for Smith and have some concerns with their bowling attack, despite the efforts of Johnson and Coulter-Nile here - I’m not sure they can carry Marsh as a guy who has to bowl 8 or more overs.

10.43pm AEST11:43

47th over: South Africa 258-9 (Morkel 21, Tahir 13)

Now Maxwell is on, signalling the fact that Bailey is actually a little bit worried about Morkel using the pace on the ball to snatch this game. It’s improbable but not impossible, especially after Tahir gets in on the act and sweeps a boundary.

Maxwell, maintaining discpline as ever, bowls one out the front of the hand It’s the kind of ball most would only try in the nets but not our Glenn. South Africa need 43 from 18 balls. It could happen, I suppose. Is anyone still awake though?

10.39pm AEST11:39

46th over: South Africa 250-9 (Morkel 19, Tahir 7)

Mitchell Marsh is reintroduced in the search of a consolation wicket but instead gets pulled for a demoralization boundary. DOn’t bowl half-trackers to Morne Morkel, Mitch. Here’s another great nugget of joy: in his little intro graphic, Marsh is clearly sporting a cold sore.

Spoiler alert: I don’t think he’s even going to get the tailenders out.

Updated at 10.39pm AEST

10.34pm AEST11:34

45th over: South Africa 244-9 (Morkel 14, Tahir 6)

Maybe there are still some things to love about this game: when Morne Morkel crouches in his batting stance I can’t help but think of the voluminous arc of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A bridge that hits Mitchell Johnson for stright fours, as it turns out. It’s quite a sight.

10.29pm AEST11:29

44th over: South Africa 238-9 (Morkel 9, Tahir 2)

Coulter-Nile gets one up around Morkel’s nose but the lanky Protea swivels around and deposits it down to the fine leg boundary. That’s the highlight of the over and this is some junky cricket right now. This game needs to be euthanized.

10.25pm AEST11:25

43rd over: South Africa 226-9 (Morkel 2, Tahir 1)

Reader Robert Wilson has put his hand up for the Australian captaincy. “I can neither bat nor bowl and I’m not strictly-speaking Australian but I’m very polite.” The first three are no great problem Robert but the fourth might be a hindrance, Robert.

Mitchell Johnson is not polite right now. At first he’s bowling bouncers when one well-placed yorker would probably do the job. The Tahir keeps out the yorkers too in determined fashion. He even takes a run to retain the strike.

10.19pm AEST11:19

42nd over: South Africa 222-9 (Morkel 1, Tahir 0)

Coulter-Nile greets Tahir with a bouncer. Didn’t see that coming.

10.18pm AEST11:18

Wicket! Steyn c Wade b Coulter-Nile 6 (South Africa 222-9)

Like Johnson, Coulter-Nile decides it would be unnecessarily generous to give the South Africans anything in their own half of the pitch. It’s not a bad ploy because when he does, Steyn slogs him down the ground for a boundary. That’s followed by a far better effort, which Steyn attempts to hit into Wednesday but only succeeds in edging to Wade.

The only interest remaining now is whether Coulter-Nile can get five.

10.14pm AEST11:14

41st over: South Africa 218-8 (Steyn 2, Morkel 1)

It’s party time for the Aussies now. Johnson is reintroduced to rough up Morkel, which is perhaps a little petty but not all that surprising given relations between certain members of these two sides in the past couple of years.

Steyn pluckily ramps one bouncer for a single, then Morkel backs away to square leg like any of us mere mortals would do when faced with this sort of scenario. Johnson sees that and comes around the wicket at him. He survives.

10.09pm AEST11:09

40th over: South Africa 215-8 (Steyn 1, Morkel 0)

Hazlewood really is finished now, I promise. He ends up with 1-50 from his 10 overs.

10.08pm AEST11:08

WICKET! de Villiers run out (Smith) 80 (South Africa 215-8)

I’d retired Hazlewood an over early, it turns out. Both he and Umpire Nigel Llong are thus thrown into the danger of grave injury when de Villiers charges down the pitch and slaps a straight pull directly at the pair. Llong shows great reflexes to avoid a nasty blow and it races away to the fence.

de Villiers wants to push things along with Steyn on strike and when he’s sent back by his partner, sub-fielder Steve Smith swoops from cover to run de Villiers out with an underarm throw of deadly accuracy. That will be the game then.

10.03pm AEST11:03

39th over: South Africa 210-7 (de Villiers 75, Steyn 1)

That Hazlewood wicket finished both his spell and the 38th over. The man with the Midas touch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, returns to bowl his 8th over. When Steyn isn’t losing his shoe he’s hopping around the crease and trying to avoid the barrage of short stuff the Aussie quick is unleashing on the Proteas tail.

I like this mean streak in Coulter-Nile; in this game it’s just yanked Australia out of the torpor of their middle-overs bowling performance. He looks a World Cup starter to me.

9.58pm AEST10:58

OUT! Philander c Wade b Hazlewood 1 (South Africa 207-7)

To the naked eye Philander looked safe but hot spot and then snicko condemn the batsman to the gallows. This is a huge recovery from Australia and Hazlewood benefits from another successful review. South Africa’s chase is teetering on the edge now.

9.55pm AEST10:55

Review!

Again the Aussies think they have a caught behind dismissal, this time Philander.

9.51pm AEST10:51

37th over: South Africa 204-6 (de Villiers 71, Philander 0)

That was a cracking over from Nathan Coulter-Nile; he benefited from a rash stroke by Miller to break the vital partnership but the bouncer to get McLaren was razor-sharp. The two wickets have knocked this one well off course for South Africa.

9.49pm AEST10:49

OUT! McLaren c Wade b Coulter-Nile 0 (South Africa 202-6)

Replays and hot spot indicate that the ball had glanced McLaren’s glove as he ducked out of the way of the Coulter-Nile bouncer and he’s given! What a an over for the Aussies and what a review. They get a lot of them wrong but judicious use of the technology in this isntance has paid off in spades. If the Proteas are to get home, de Villiers has his work cut out.

9.45pm AEST10:45

Review! Australia think they have another one

It’s a potential caught behind ruling against Ryan McLaren, who looks very nervous.

9.44pm AEST10:44

D Miller c Marsh b Coulter-Nile 65 (South Africa 202-5)

What a mozz! I should change that to “c Marsh b Jackson”. Just as de Villiers and Miller looked an immovable obstacle, Coulter-Nile returns and draws an awful stroke from the latter. He just bunted a dolly straight into Marsh’s hands at mid-on.

9.42pm AEST10:42

36th over: South Africa 202-4 (de Villiers 70, Miller 65)

Australia are just two balls away from controlling this game, says James Brayshaw, a master of deduction. As he does so South Africa pass the 200 mark and George Bailey possibly pauses to consider a way through this seemingly impenetrable partnership.

9.36pm AEST10:36

35th over: South Africa 198-4 (de Villiers 68, Miller 63)

South Africa have seized control of this game and Mitchell Johnson knows it. He slashes and probes and slithers and swirls the ball at Miller but can’t find away past. Not only that but the South African creams him for a boundary to make it nine runs from the over. This is looking ominous.

Meanwhile, reader Ian Jones is good for a donation to the Brayshaw Kickstarter. “Put me down for five dollars to get rid of Brayshaw and add five more for every one of Healy, Slater and Nicholas.” Done.

9.32pm AEST10:32

34th over: South Africa 189-4 (de Villiers 65, Miller 57)

Cop that! Miller hits a hard, flat and lofted straight drive over Shane Watson’s head for six and if not for it landing on the mesh surrounding the sightscreen, it could have been a crowd-killer.

Two balls later Watson bowls a rank half-tracker down the leg side and when de Villiers helps it about a metre past the diving Wade for four, the bowler is again acting like the most hard-done-by man in the world. If Shane Watson had skippered the Titanic, upon seeing the front of it being caved in he almost definitely would have thrown his hands up as though the ice had in fact lunged at him and not the other way around.

I guess Australian cricket would be boring without him.

9.27pm AEST10:27

33rd over: South Africa 177-4 (de Villiers 60, Miller 50)

This is where things will probably get more interesting; the number one bowler in the world, Mitch Johnson, squares off against the world’s best batsman, AB de Villiers. It’s a stalemate to begin with - de Villiers is typically imaginative with his footwork but can’t get the left-armer away for anything other than a single.

Miller is hardly playing second fiddle to his partner and brings up a half-century of his own with a thick edge past Shane Watson at slip.

9.20pm AEST10:20

32nd over: South Africa 173-4 (de Villiers 59, Miller 48)

Bailey decides that it’s Watto Time. Exactly what Watto Time will actually entail remains to be scene, but the skipper will be thinking at least a wicket or two.

Meanwhile, Mike Hussey is talking quite touchingly of having his fire to play international cricket stoked when, as a youngster, he operated a grade cricket scoreboard while Damien Martyn was batting and could barely able to keep up with the numbers. This little anecdote is like an oasis of insight compared to the inanities offered up by most of his colleagues today. Is there a way we can crowd-fund the removal of James Brayshaw, please?

Updated at 9.22pm AEST

9.14pm AEST10:14

31st over: South Africa 167-4 (de Villiers 56, Miller 46)

In contrast to Maxwell’s costly over, Coulter-Nile tightens the screws with a series of dots and only two singles to apply some pressure.

Congrats @MitchJohnson398 for being named the ICC Player of the Year & Test Player of the Year. Well done mate, very well deserved.

Updated at 9.15pm AEST

9.12pm AEST10:12

30th over: South Africa 165-4 (de Villiers 55, Miller 45)

If you’re a little bored by proceedings at the moment, which would be fair enough, I’d suggest you take a look at this profile on Australia’s high performance manager Pat Howard and his rugby links. Read it for no other reason than the fact that it reveals he was a carny as a child.

Meanwhile. there is a bit of excitement when de Villiers decides he’s seen enough of Maxwell’s inoucuous off-spin to know he can slog him over cow corner for six without any great danger. In doing so he brings up his half-century. It’s as though single-handedly killing Australia is his life’s ambition or something.

9.08pm AEST10:08

29th over: South Africa 154-4 (de Villiers 46, Miller 43)

Nathan Coulter-Nile re-appears and almost prizes out David Miller when he has him hooking down to Aaron Finch at fine leg. A more agile fielder than the Victorian might have made the ground to take a low catch but he doesn’t get a hand on it before it thuds into the outfield. Back to the drawing board then.

9.04pm AEST10:04

28th over: South Africa 149-4 (de Villiers 43, Miller 41)

Glenn Maxwell seems entirely convinced that he’s about to take a wicket, which is funny because he really doesn’t look like he actually will unless one of these batsmen holes out. Still, he’s keeping it tight and that is his primary role right at the moment as South Africa edge marginally past the asking rate in this chase.

9.01pm AEST10:01

27th over: South Africa 144-4 (de Villiers 41, Miller 38)

We’re well and truly into the middle-over dross right now, all bunted singles and low-intensity containment-bowling, so why not do me a favour and send through an email? What I am saying is: do my job for me for a little bit, please.

8.56pm AEST09:56

26th over: South Africa 141-4 (de Villiers 39, Miller 37)

You know how they say some pacemen “bowl a heavy ball”? Right now, Mitchell Marsh looks like he’s bowling a very, very soft ball. One of those squishy ones you buy from the counter of 7/11 when you’re walking off a big night, even.

He’s milked for five balls of this over and then David Miller rocks back and pulls him with ample loft for a boundary to deep mid-wicket. Both of these South Africans are well set now.

8.51pm AEST09:51

25th over: South Africa 132-4 (de Villiers 37, Miller 30)

Hazlewood is reintroduced by Bailey, perhaps in the hope of getting his overs out of the way before the Proteas really accelerate in his chase. David Miller may be unheralded on the international scene but he’s a highly rated strokeplayer and has looked in excellent touch so far.

8.47pm AEST09:47

24th over: South Africa 127-4 (de Villiers 35, Miller 27)

Mitchell Marsh is back into the attack and David Miller likes the look of his first half-tracker, which is duly dispatched over the head of mid-wicket for a boundary. Marsh is really struggling and the South African batsmen know it. He drags one short and Miller punishes him again, thumping a boundary wide of point.

I’ll reiterate a huge concern for Australia: Mitch Marsh just doesn’t look like taking wickets at the moment.

8.43pm AEST09:43

23rd over: South Africa 116-4 (de Villiers 34, Miller 18)

Speaking of iony, is there no greater source of it than Glenn Maxwell - he of the reverse hooks and kamikaze fielding - bowling off-spin, the most dour of all cricketing arts? Here he concedes another four singles, which is a good job done well as far as the defence of this Australia total goes.

8.40pm AEST09:40

22nd over: South Africa 112-4 (de Villiers 32, Miller 16)

Displaying a great appreciation for irony, Channel Nine pan to footage of a garbage tip in the surrounds of the WACA. A good metaphor for their coverage, really.

Shane Watson got the breakthrough earlier, but he hasn’t inspired much confidence since and this over goes for seven relatively easy runs.

8.36pm AEST09:36

21st over: South Africa 105-4 (de Villiers 27, Miller 14)

Reader Rudi Edsall isn’t too worried about Steve Smith missing out on a game today. “My read on the Smith situation was that it’s simply a rotation thing. Smith has played lots of recent cricket and Watson hasn’t. I suppose it hardly matters now as Smith is the obvious replacement for Clarke at 4.”

Should Australia be flirting with form and selection so close to the World Cup? Rightly or wrongly they see Watson as a match-winner for that tournament but the first-choice side really needs to be nailed down soon.

Meanwhile, everyone’s favourite national hate figure Glenn Maxwell is having a trundle and keep things tidy in his first over, conceding only four runs from his flat, nude off-spin.

8.33pm AEST09:33

20th over: South Africa 101-4 (de Villiers 25, Miller 12)

After three to David Miller, de Villiers strides down the track to Watson and drives him gloriously for a straight four, narrowly avoiding the despairing dive of Aaron Finch at mid-on. Glenn Maxwell is a little bit more acrobatic to restrict a follow-up slash over cover down to two.

Australia was 109-2 at this point of their own innings and needless to say, currently retain the upper hand.

8.28pm AEST09:28

19th over: South Africa 90-4 (de Villiers 17, Miller 9)

Sticking to more conventional means of scoring runs, David Miller cover drives splendidly from the bowling of Marsh to pick up a boundary.

Channel Nine are meanwhile running a poll to decide the preferred Test captain for Brisbane. Not deterred by the fact that their viewers are the kind of people who watch Two and a Half Men, the broadcaster confidently predicts that Steve Smith is the man for the job after all. George Bailey is the next best option apparently, regardless of the fact that he’s not currently within cooee of the starting XI.

Updated at 8.29pm AEST

8.24pm AEST09:24

18th over: South Africa 84-4 (de Villiers 16, Miller 4)

AB de Villiers is looking to increase the scoring rate here and his first action towards achieving that is to run down the wicket at Shane Watson and play a kind of overhead smash, which looks as absurd as it reads. It flies down to fine leg for a single because he sort of pulled out of it at the last minute and the ball deflected accordingly.

Watson is therefore doing his usual routine of facial contortions, throwing back of the arms and general petulance.

8.20pm AEST09:20

17th over: South Africa 81-4 (de Villiers 14, Miller 3)

In fairness to the umpire de Villiers had really walked across his stumps before that contentious delivery struck the pad. The final ball of the Marsh over is slipped rather streakily through the vacant gully region by Miller, who picks up two.

8.18pm AEST09:18

Decision overturned - not out!

Turns out it was missing leg, a decision that takes roughly the length of a Seinfeld episode to decide.

8.16pm AEST09:16

REVIEW!

Marsh thinks he’s trapped de Villiers in front and the umpire yields. AB, in no great surprise, disagrees.

8.15pm AEST09:15

16th over: South Africa 76-4 (de Villiers 12, Miller 0)

Replays of Watson’s du Plessis send-off are no more endearing than the real-time experience. Why does he insist on turning the world against him?

8.13pm AEST09:13

WICKET! du Plessis c Marsh b Watson 31 (South Arica 76-4

Oh dear. Having narrowly escaped with a six over the fingertips of Mitch Marsh at fine leg to start Shane Watson’s spell, Faf Du Plessis takes the bait again the very next ball and sends it straight down the young all-rounders throat. Watson has killed him with kindness, but obviously makes sure he also abuses him on the way off too. That’ll learn him.

Anyway, to say that is a crucial wicket is a significant understatement. Advantage Australia. It’s all on you, AB.

8.09pm AEST09:09

15th over: South Africa 67-3 (du Plessis 25, de Villiers 9)

An over after it began, the Johnson spell is finished. Instead the Proteas pair have Mitchell Marsh to contend with. Marsh, as the national slectors indicated before the UAE tour, has excited mainly on account of his bowling but personally I’ve found his batting a little more interesting.

A year ago he was sending them down at 145 kmph. Now, after the encroachment of injury, he’s about 10 clicks slower and I wonder whether that’s been a vital component of his inability to prize out wickets of late. He certainly didn’t look like taking any against Pakistan, but his batting showed more promise. His first over here is solid but not spectacular.

8.02pm AEST09:02

14th over: South Africa 64-3 (du Plessis 23, de Villiers 8)

As Clarke finishes his passable job at talking up the competitiveness of the Indian side that Australia will face in the upcoming Test series, Coulter-Nile bounces in to de Villiers and concedes a single. Faf du Plessis gives an indication of the bowlers’ place in the pecking order when he contemptuously walks down the pitch to him, as though he’s a lowly net bowler.

I can’t help but feel as though there’s an immediate glut of runs on way unless Johnson can break through for either of these crucial scalps.

Can one of you video wizards splice in Pup saying "I don't know much" with Mark 'Linda Ronstadt' Nicholas saying "But I know I love you" Thx

7.56pm AEST08:56

13th over: South Africa 61-3 (du Plessis 21, de Villiers 7)

Bailey senses the importance of this batting pair and re-introduces Johnson in an attempt to snuff out the partnership before it begins. It’s not a bad ploy, even if he’s risking using his ace up early.

“Unfortunately I’ve tweaked my hamstring again”, says Michael Clarke, who has appeared to give Channel Nine an exclusive interview, one in which they say he’ll reveal all about the injury. “I don’t know much to be honest,” he adds. Well there’s that then.

Johnson’s over ends without any great incident bar a wild throw back at the stumps from the final delivery.

7.51pm AEST08:51

12th over: South Africa 57-3 (du Plessis 21, de Villiers 4)

Well, this is a terrific start for Australia, with wickets tumbling regularly, but de Villiers highlights the danger that looms when he cuts his fourth sighter of the night to the cover boundary. Now that he’s combined with du Plessis, we have the game-shaping partnership on our hands.

7.49pm AEST08:49

WICKET! Behardien c Finch b Coulter-Nile 20 (Aouth Africa 53-3)

Out of nowhere, and to a ball that was far from the best offering from Nathan Coulter-Nile, Farhaan Bhardien (add a “du” or “de” and that has to be the most South African name ever) briefly loses his mind and pulls it high into the outfield and straight into the hands of Aaron Finch at deep mid-wicket. That was lamentable after his solid start.

7.45pm AEST08:45

11th over: South Africa 51-2 (du Plessis 21, Behardien 18)

As a nation silently ponders the merit of the decision, Bailey opts to keep Hazlewood chugging away for another over. He’s more accurate but lacking in penetration, which allows the Proteas to push singles around the park.

7.41pm AEST08:41

10th over: South Africa 45-2 (du Plessis 17, Behardien 16)

Now it’s Coulter-Nile who is copping some stick when Behardien slashes him to the through cover point fence when he strays short and wide. Unimpressed with the classic stroke-making of the previous overs, Michael Slater calls it a “much-needed boundary”. If that one was much needed, the straight-driven boundary that follows is just showing off. Behardien is up and running now.

7.37pm AEST08:37

9th over: South Africa 37-2 (du Plessis 17, Behardien 8)

Bailey decides that it’s worth using up another of Hazlewood’s overs early in the piece, but the New South Welshman has slowed a little in his pace now. Behardien stands up straight and drives him through cover attractively for three, then du Plessis clips another on-drive from his pads. It’s a boundary and the over costs 9. Might be time for a change from that end now.

7.33pm AEST08:33

8th over: South Africa 28-2 (du Plessis 13, Behardien 3)

Nathan Coulter-Nile, another on Australia’s conveyer-belt of thick-set, combative fast bowlers, appears to replace Hazlewood. I love his bowling action; specifically the sort of bobbing-forward of the head he does with each step, as though he’s not bowling a cricket ball but trying to bop along to some dance music in a way that doesn’t draw too much attention.

That said, he can’t stray onto the pads of Faf and expect to get away with it. The South Arican leans forward attractively and strokes it to the mid wicket fence.

7.29pm AEST08:29

7th over: South Africa 24-2 (du Plessis 9, Behardien 3)

Johnson’s spell reaches a fourth over, though Behardien probably wishes it hadn’t once he’s ducking out of the way of a fast, well-directed bouncer from the snarling left-armer. Getting some width next up, he tentatively drives through cover for three to get off the mark and probably settles his nerves a little.

By the way, if you haven’t read this little tease on the Clarke-Lehmann contretemps, it’s definitely worth a look.

7.26pm AEST08:26

6th over: South Africa 19-2 (du Plessis 7, Behardien 0)

Hazlewood keeps wheeling away to the fresh pair and so far has been a solid performer with the new ball, if a little less eye-catching than Johnson. He concedes a single to du Plessis and then jams up Behardien with a yorker.

Here’s the pads I was talking about. I now feel warm and filled with thoughts of Andrew Hudson and Meryck Pringle

Has du Plessis got his greens mixed up? #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/cAwF8asTBe

7.21pm AEST08:21

5th over: South Africa 18-2 (du Plessis 6, Behardien 0)

Somehat surprisngly, it’s Behardien who joins du Plessis at the crease and not de Villiers. Is there trouble on the injury front or is this some kind of dynamic, mid-innings change-up in tactics?

7.19pm AEST08:19

WICKET! Amla c Wade b Johnson 8 (South Africa 18-2)

From the sublime to the ridiculous in three balls is Amla. Two balls after his textbook masterclass, he crouches down to a length ball he must have thought was shorter than it ended up being and tries to run it to third man with an ugly chop. Instead he gets a thick edge stright into the gloves of Wade and Johnson is understandably delighted. It cramped him for room a little too, that one. What a strange shot from the South African champion.

7.16pm AEST08:16

4th over: South Africa 15-1 (Amla 8, du Plessis 2)

The Smith question is a tricky one. Word is that Clarke is ruffling feathers all over the dressing room, so Smith is hardly on his own there, but it’s got to be frustrating for him that in the form of his career, he’s had to make way for Shane Watson. It’s a tough Aussie batting line-up to squeeze into (just ask Cameron White, Ben Dunk, Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes) but Smith has always done the job in recent times. He deserves a prolonged run.

Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis is at the crease now and looks to be wearing Kepler Wessels’ pads from the 1992 World Cup. The Proteas uniform is dark green and these things are pure lime. They look brilliant, as does Amla’s majestic back foot drive for four to end Hazlewood’s over. You could watch 100 replays of that shot.

7.10pm AEST08:10

3rd over: South Africa 6-1 (Amla 3, du Plessis 0)

As Johnson finishes that successful over, reader Ian Jones wonders why OBO favourite Steve ‘Smudger’ Smith has been omitted today, other than for the continuation of the Shane Watson saga, which has taken Australia hostage for the best part of a decade.

“Is there any good reason why Smith has been dropped?” he asks. “We don’t get all the Aus’ cricket news here. Has there been some sort of falling out with Clark? It seems foolish to leave out someone in such good form.”

7.08pm AEST08:08

WICKET! Q de Kock c Wade b Johnson 2 (South Africa 6-1)

Johnson strikes! Quinton de Kock has been circumspect so far and after a non-committal shuffle forward he does little other than feather an edge through to Wade for a regulation catch and so departs. “Regulation” is how the Aussie ‘keeper generally likes them, too.

7.04pm AEST08:04

2nd over: South Africa 5-0 (Amla 2, de Kock 2)

The tall, burly Josh Hazlewood pairs with Johnson to start with and bar a wide with his first ball, is asking questions of de Kock with plenty of speed, bounce and swing.

“It smells a bit here” says David Warner before the producers cut the stump microphone in time. I assume he thinks that de Kock might be a little jumpy but maybe it’s actually something far more highbrow. Hazlewood is actually nudged around for a trio of singles as the batsmen start to get a feel for this bouncy wicket, but it’s an encouraging start from the young paceman.

6.59pm AEST07:59

1st over: South Africa 0-0 (Amla 0, de Kock 0)

And we’re under way now in this South African reply. Mitchell Johnson takes the new ball and George Bailey fills in for the injured Michael Clarke. Here’s a debate to kick us off; if Clarke misses the Brisbane Test and Brad Haddin does too, is Steve Smith the natural option as fill-in skipper (please say yes, please say yes) or does Bailey actually stand a chance as a kind of beardless Brearley?

Spaking of luscious facial hair, Hashim Amla doesn’t have it all his way in Johnson’s opening over, which is right on the mark. Amla nearly chops one on and seems anxious to get off strike, as you would be when they’re slinging down at 147 clicks. It’s a maiden and a probing one at that.

6.51pm AEST07:51

Good evening all

Well there was narrative aplenty in that Australian innings; Warner’s typical flying start and slightly less appealing early dismissal; Dale Steyn winning his first bout with Michael Clarke; a hamstring injury to the Aussie skipper throwing up a multitude of hypotheticals for the summer ahead; oodles of dropped catches by the Proteas and finally, a fast-finish from Bailey, Wade and Maxwell propelling the locals to an imposing-feeling total of 300.

As Geoff alluded to, rare is the 300-run ODI chase in Perth, but after watching the Sharmageddon sequel last night, I now believe that anything is possible, especially for a side containing a talent the likes of AB de Villiers.

Just as I’m looking forward to this summer of cricket kicking into gear over the next few weeks, I’m also eager to see how this one will pan out. You can email me at russell.jackson@theguardian.com or via twitter on @rustyjacko

6.41pm AEST07:41

It was a strange old innings. Warner and Finch piled on 94 in their opening stand, then South Africa hit back, but couldn’t close the deal. George Bailey was dropped four times, among a couple of other misses, which allowed him to lead Australia’s rebuilding with his inning of 70. Matthew Wade provided valuable support, Maxwell provided a fun cameo, and Johnson and Coulter-Nile iced the cake. Michael Clarke injured himself again while batting and will miss the rest of the match, and probably the series.

That’s it from me - Geoff Lemon signing off, and Russell Jackson will convey the terms of the South African reply.

6.35pm AEST07:35

So whaddya say? South Africa need to chase 301 to win. That’s going to be a tough ask.

Today was the 10th time a team has scored 300 or more at the WACA. Only two of those scores have been in the second innings.

Do they have the firepower, and will Berhardien be inconvenienced by his shoulder injury?

6.25pm AEST07:25

50th over: Australia 8-300 (Johnson 13 Coulter-Nile 9)

Hell for leather now - NCN bludgeons a boundary from Morkel through long on, as Philander slid and tried to hook it away with his boot, like Gary Cahill clearing a ball off the goal line. Philander ended up looking clumsy and NCN ended up with four.

They sneak through for a bye from the next ball as NCN misses completely, Johnson is through before de Kock knew what was going on. Then a leg bye, then a wide, then a leg bye, before four! as Johnson top edges over fine leg.

He pulls two more runs from the final ball of the over, it has gone for 14 runs, and the 300 is up for Australia.

6.20pm AEST07:20

49th over: Australia 8-286 (Johnson 7 Coulter-Nile 4)

Coulter-Nile is swinging from the off, bunting two runs over midwicket, then swinging and missing at the next couple before finally connecting for asingle. Then it’s whack, as Johnson clouts Steyn’s short ball directly back down the pitch in the air for four, then scoops two to the leg side.

Nine from the over!

6.15pm AEST07:15

48th over: Australia 8-277 (Johnson 1 Coulter-Nile 1)

Maxwell and Johnson were swinging at everything, but Maxwell’s departure brought Coulter-Nile to the crease. He gets off the mark immediately with a single.

6.13pm AEST07:13

WICKET! 29 (19 balls), c du Plessis b Morkel

The carnival is over. The Faff Man takes another good catch at mid-off, this one very close to the ground with fingers beneath the ball, Maxwell got a piece of the ball but couldn’t get the elevation.

6.09pm AEST07:09

47th over: Australia 7-275 (Maxwell 29, Johnson 0)

Steyn fumes as Maxwell hits a swooping pull shot high out to deep midwicket, only for Tahir to lose the ball in the high blue sky, and let it bounce behind him. Maxwell gets two.

Then cuts poorly off the toe of the bat over point for four.

Then edges a muscular pull over the keeper for four.

Then gets a wide down leg side.

Then top-edges a cow-corner heave that lands between two fieldsmen towards mid-on.

Then backs away a metre outside leg stump to try an inside-out drive over cover which he misses completely, that nearly bowls him.

Then stops moving, waits for Steyn, and plays the little flip-pull over backward square leg for four.

17 from the over, and a million stories of G. Maxwell that will ring through the ages.

6.03pm AEST07:03

46th over: Australia 7-258 (Maxwell 13, Johnson 0)

Maxwell! Edges four through slip. Maxwell! Misses the reverse sweep (facing Philander). Maxwell! Lofts in the air to long-off on the bounce, nearly caught. But who gets out? Wade.

The ICC Player of the Year, Mitchell Johnson, comes in.

Philander has 10-0-45-5.

5.59pm AEST06:59

WICKET! Wade 35 (40 balls), c sub (Rossouw) b Philander

Philander gets his fourth, Wade cuts in the air to deep point and the catch is taken.

5.57pm AEST06:57

45th over: Australia 6-251 (Wade 35, Maxwell 7)

Tahir to Maxwell. Fireworks ensue. Lofted four down the ground. After Maxwell gets a single, Wade blasts one straight and low that nearly kills the umpire. Four more. 250 up. 12 from the over.

5.52pm AEST06:52

44th over: Australia 6-239 (Wade 30, Maxwell 0)

Sixes, wickets. Steyn came back, first ball of a new spell, yorker, Bailey skipped well outside leg and hauled it over long on. The next ball Bailey was twisted out of position trying to drive it over long off, it went very high, du Plessis was up in the circle and had to track back.

Maxwell comes to the crease. Wade takes a single and a brace. End of the over.

5.49pm AEST06:49

WICKET! Bailey 70 (75 balls), c du Plessis b Steyn

Finally Bailey’s luck runs out, with a phenomenal catch by du Plessis running back at long off, backing back and then leaping. Bailey had just hit Steyn for six, so he finishes at nearly a run a ball, after at one stage being 24 from close to 50 balls.

5.46pm AEST06:46

43rd over: Australia 5-230 (Bailey 64, Wade 27)

Bailey gets all of that one! Full from McLaren, Bailey loves them full and he Jimmy Andersons that straight down onto the awning deep in the stand. Six! Then nudges a single. Wade reciprocates, then...

He goes again! Six more for Bailey, this one even bigger, way onto the grass hill past deep midwicket. He’s making the most of his many reprieves. Then the single again. Clever batting. A wide bouncer takes McLaren’s tally for the over to 16, but Wade misses the replacement ball without further score.

Time for Clarke to concentrate on Tests?

"Give it away, give it away, give it away now." Red Hot Chilli Peppers' famous ode to Michael Clarke's ODI career.

5.40pm AEST06:40

Half century

42nd over: Australia 5-214 (Bailey 50, Wade 26)

Bailey has decided he needs to be the man to go. He copped all of a pull shot to Philander’s short ball, and sent it away through long on for four. Bounced a foot inside the rope. But then he nearly holed out to square leg, got two, then gets a single to raise his half-century from 69 balls. Not his most convincing, shall we say.

5.37pm AEST06:37

Dropped!

That is drop number four for Bailey. Four. And he’s injured Farhaan Berhadien, who was diving forward out at square leg and jarred his shoulder heavily on the turf. Might have strained it or worse, he’s been down a long time with the trainer.

5.32pm AEST06:32

41st over: Australia 5-204 (Bailey 42, Wade 24)

Poor old Bailey hasn’t been able to middle much out there today. That was his first real attempt for a six, went for the big heave down the ground, got the inside part of the bat, it skewed away very high and wide of mid-on, and Philander got around underneath it but somehow lost it as it swirled, and injured his hand into the bargain trying to take the catch.

Bailey has been dropped three times. He got three runs from the drop. McLaren was the bowler.

For more about immortal jellyfish, here’s an excellent read.

5.27pm AEST06:27

Dropped!

It’s Bailey AGAIN! He’s like one of those immortal jellyfish out there.

5.26pm AEST06:26

40th over: Australia 5-196 (Bailey 39, Wade 22)

Morkel to continue, the Powerplay is done. Three singles - and these two are running beautifully and aggressively now - are enough to raise their 50 partnership from 60 balls.

Can we remove Clarke's hamstrings? RT @CricketAus: Michael Clarke has re-injured his hamstring and will take no further part... #AUSvSA

5.21pm AEST06:21

39th over: Australia 5-191 (Bailey 36, Wade 20)

Imran Tahir is back to try to spin out this partnership. Not so threatening, but four singles is all he concedes.

Brettig is straight onto the story.

If Haddin and Clarke both don't come up for Brisbane, George Bailey a smokie for captain I reckon #cricket

5.17pm AEST06:17

News: Clarke injured

Breaking news just coming through is that Australian captain Michael Clarke has reinjured his hamstring while batting. That means that Bailey will be back to captaining the ODI side, which he’s been doing almost the entire time anyway, so ultimately this makes no difference to anything ever. Carry on.

5.16pm AEST06:16

38th over: Australia 5-187 (Bailey 34, Wade 18)

That’s better. Steyn drops short and Bailey creams that through midwicket. It was in the air but it would have taken a hand clean off had someone been so foolish as to intercept. Wade is still working the singles well, including one that goes upstairs to the third umpire unnecessarily as Bailey was metres into the crease.

5.12pm AEST06:12

37th over: Australia 5-180 (Bailey 29, Wade 16)

Morkel will be the second Powerplay bowler, with a slip in. Bailey cuts straight to the field, before riding the bounce to get off strike. Wade hands the strike back, and Bailey lofts Morkel flat, straight down the ground for four. That was fully pitched and it got the treatment, and Bailey consolidates with the single next ball. Wade wanders well down the wicket before working one wisely to the weg side.

5.06pm AEST06:06

36th over: Australia 5-172 (Bailey 23, Wade 14)

It’s Steyn for the Powerplay, but you don’t get the feeling that Bailey and Wade will want to flay too many around the park with this many overs to go. Instead they’re flaying themselves up and down the pitch, taking some very quick singles.

Once Steyn gives some width, Wade cuts him square for four. Lovely shot, into the ground and it flew away. Then a wide down leg.

5.01pm AEST06:01

35th over: Australia 5-164 (Bailey 21, Wade 9)

McLaren continuing, bowling his seaming variations - cutters, yorkers, back of a length, slower balls. They can only get three singles here, both batsmen pulling out the late cut but unable to beat third man. 15 overs to go, meaning a compulsory Powerplay is about to be taken.

4.57pm AEST05:57

34th over: Australia 5-161 (Bailey 19, Wade 8)

Faarhan Berhadien is on for his first over, and my first look at him live, and he’s bowling very gentle mediums without much seam position - more a kind of lob. Bailey yells an absent-minded Wade through for a run that shouldn’t have been a close thing, but was. They work five singles from him, waiting for his deliveries to arive.

Updated at 5.37pm AEST

4.53pm AEST05:53

33rd over: Australia 5-156 (Bailey 16, Wade 6)

Ryan McLaren, who has had so much success for South Africa as a bowler of late, puts together another tidy over, two singles and a wide. The batsmen are dividing up the overs between them for the most part.

4.48pm AEST05:48

32nd over: Australia 5-153 (Bailey 15, Wade 5)

That’s better from Bailey, a nicely timed push through cover from Philander. He and Wade are trading singles, which is all Australia needs to do for the next 15 overs or so, to get them up above 200 and brace for a final flurry. They bat down to 11, so they just need a platform. Philander needs one more incision. Six singles from the over.

4.42pm AEST05:42

31st over: Australia 5-147 (Bailey 12, Wade 2)

George Bailey is not in a happy headspace. He’s played and missed again, he’s bashed his bat into the turf in frustration, then he’s nicked a run to third man. McLaren’s over goes for only two runs as we go to drinks.

4.37pm AEST05:37

30th over: Australia 5-145 (Bailey 11, Wade 1)

“Pretty sure there’ll be butterflies going through his body,” says renowned lepidopterist and anatomist Brad Hogg on ABC Radio, as Matthew Wade comes out to bat. Maxwell was schedule to come in next, but Wade is probably better suited to a longer innings. Philander has 3/22 from 7 overs, he’s bowled beautifully today.

4.34pm AEST05:34

WICKET! Marsh 10 (15 balls), b Philander

The Silver Vern has come back and delivered gold. Nipped back off the seam and straight through the gap to scatter the timbers.

4.33pm AEST05:33

29th over: Australia 4-143 (Bailey 10, Marsh 10)

Shot. Marsh leans forward and creams this drive through wide mid-off. A boundary, his first. McLaren the bowler. Bailey hits a cut shot just as well but it’s beautifully stopped at backward point.

Updated at 4.34pm AEST

4.29pm AEST05:29

28th over: Australia 4-137 (Bailey 9, Marsh 5)

That’s a bit better from Marsh and Bailey, working Tahir for six runs in ones and twos. Slightly more comfortable. So much time left to bat.

4.25pm AEST05:25

27th over: Australia 4-131 (Bailey 7, Marsh 1)

Oh, but the screws are tightening. The beanpole Morkel delivers a maiden to Mitch Marsh. Australia looking to consolidate with almost half the innings to play.

4.22pm AEST05:22

26th over: Australia 4-131 (Bailey 7, Marsh 1)

How’s this. Tahir’s first over went for 15 runs. Then he’s bowled 6 overs, 1 for 17.

4.18pm AEST05:18

WICKET! Watson 13 (27 balls), c Morkel b Tahir

He was just starting to look good and he’s gone. A sweep shot, the man at fine leg had just come up inside the circle, and he took the low catch. Tahir gets his first.

4.16pm AEST05:16

25th over: Australia 3-129 (Watson 13, Bailey 6)

Shotttttttt. Watson uppercuts over the keeper as Morkel got short and at the throat. That’s a casual response to a good bouncer. Bailey collected a couple more as well, settling the nerves.

4.13pm AEST05:13

Dropped!

24th over: Australia 3-122 (Watson 9, Bailey 3)

Can Bailey regain his composure? He’s been dropped twice in two balls faced, after Watson took a single. Bailey tried to turn it through midwicket, popped up a friendly leading edge back to the bowler Tahir, and somehow Tahir stumbled and fumbled and ended up on all fours lunging for that ball on the rebound as he put it down. Bailey gets a single from the over’s final ball, after a few deep inhalations and exhalations.

4.10pm AEST05:10

Dropped!

23rd over: Australia 3-120 (Watson 8, Bailey 2)

The great asset, Dale Steyn, is being preserved after five overs. Morkel returns to bowl his fourth. Bailey glances one, Watson smashes what should have been four but is well saved at mid off, and then...

Bailey is dropped at point. Smashed a cut shot straight to David Miller who some how let it through his hands. It only fell a metre behind him. He just lost it completely. Bailey gets a life.

4.05pm AEST05:05

22nd over: Australia 3-118 (Watson 7, Bailey 1)

Tahir settling in for a long spell by the looks of things. This is his fifth over on the trot. Watson and Bailey can only manage a single apiece, Bailey off the mark by digging it through point.

4.03pm AEST05:03

21st over: Australia 3-116 (Watson 6, Bailey 0)

BAILEY TIME.

George allows his team to profit by four leg byes after taking a Steyn bouncer on the shoulder and deflecting it over the keeper. That followed three singles and the wicket of Michael Clarke. Great captaincy from de Villiers, he knew it was time to keep attacking with his strike bowler, and he’s got rid of the Australian captain.

3.59pm AEST04:59

WICKET! Clarke 11 (20 balls), c de Kock b Steyn

There’s one for the copywriters. Clarke falls to Steyn, got a short ball that he tried to hook, got the glove, looped high through to the keeper and Steyn gets a modicum of vengeance to soothe his gripe. He was very well mannered after the dismissal though.

3.57pm AEST04:57

20th over: Australia 2-109 (Watson 4, Clarke 10)

Nice googly from Tahir, Watson had backed away to try cutting it but saw it coming in to him and just chopped it out of his stumps. Next ball Watson has one of those huge ugly heaves at the ball, the kind he’s predisposed to having, but it landed safely out toward cover and earned him a run. Clarke gets one down the leg side and misses out, nicking it for two just past the keeper - but Tahir gives him the same opportunity next ball and Clarke completes the glance for four.

3.52pm AEST04:52

19th over: Australia 2-102 (Watson 3, Clarke 4)

de Villiers has decided he needs to consolidate the breach made by Philander, and so he’s brought the main man Dale Steyn back on to tackle Clarke. No love lost between those two, apparently, and after a leg bye, Steyn is almost through onto Clarke’s pad before the batsman glances it away. Watson find one, Clarke is surprised by a zippy bouncer that took the splice and handle and went away toward gully. He plays the next short one more comfortably, gets the face of the bat behind it. The Aussie ton is up.

3.48pm AEST04:48

18th over: Australia 2-99 (Watson 2, Clarke 3)

Tahir hustling through his over as though hoping the Australians won’t notice, and will forget to score. It works in this instance, two singles the only result.

3.46pm AEST04:46

17th over: Australia 2-97 (Watson 1, Clarke 2)

Philander continues his good work, making Clarke very watchful, defending and leaving, only taking a single from the over’s final ball.

3.41pm AEST04:41

16th over: Australia 2-96 (Watson 1, Clarke 1)

Tahir, relieved to have two new batsmen to bowl at, brings a bat-pad in on the off side. Watson faces four dots, before Tahir gets too short and concedes a couple of singles. Both batsmen off the mark.

3.38pm AEST04:38

15th over: Australia 2-94 (Watson 0, Clarke 0)

What a difference an over makes. One run from it, both openers sent back, and suddenly we’re back at level terms. Philander was the mander.

3.36pm AEST04:36

WICKET! Finch 35 (39 balls), c de Kock b Philander

Suddenly the match has turned. Two wickets in an over, Finch going for a back-foot push through the covers and instead nicked it through to the keeper. Philander looked the threat early, then got belted, now he’s come back and changed the game.

3.32pm AEST04:32

WICKET! Warner 46 (49 balls), c McLaren b Philander

The menace is over. Warner has pulled that very hard, very flat, very well struck, but McLaren tracked very quickly around and leapt away to haul in that catch in the deep.

3.30pm AEST04:30

14th over: Australia 0-93 (Warner 46, Finch 34)

Here’s entertainment. Imran Tahir, the cult-figure leg-spinner, is on to bowl. His first ball is a half-tracker, smashed to deep midwicket by Finch for four. Finch takes a single next ball, Warner takes a very sharply run two through cover. He regains his breath and...

SIX! Way over deep midwicket, Warner down on one knee and sweeping Tahir hard and high. Two more from the last, and that’s 15 from Tahir’s first over.

3.25pm AEST04:25

13th over: Australia 0-78 (Warner 36, Finch 29)

Philander is back, to try to regain his early equilibrium. Does so with a single and a leg bye.

Speaking of line-ups, interesting stuff going on with Australia’s. With Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell at 6 and 7, the keeper Wade is coming in at 8. Johnson, Coulter-Nile and Hazlewood are the specialist bowling attack, Marsh and Watson as support seamers, with Maxwell the only spin option unless Clarke bowls. Huge batting firepower there. Are they a bit short on bowling though, if Marsh gets clobbered?

3.20pm AEST04:20

12th over: Australia 0-76 (Warner 35, Finch 29)

Here’s Aaron Finch at last. Warner gets him on strike with a single, then Finch flays McLaren through cover for four, works a double, then strikes him over long off for a six. Suddenly he’s catching up to Warner. Such a good start from these two to get through South Africa’s early menace and start to respond with their own.

3.15pm AEST04:15

11th over: Australia 0-63 (Warner 34, Finch 17)

Weird old shot from Warner, backing away outside leg to try to pull a ball from way outside off. Morkel comes back with an over conceding just three singles.

3.12pm AEST04:12

10th over: Australia 0-60 (Warner 32, Finch 16)

Finally McLaren is able to turn in a tidy over, four runs from it. So after being sent in, Australia have got through ten overs at six per over without losing a wicket. Top work. Any thoughts on the bowling attacks? South Africa going for Tahir ahead of another fast bowler on this pitch, but their fast guys have been whacked around a bit - Tahir may have to be the trump card.

3.07pm AEST04:07

9th over: Australia 0-56 (Warner 31, Finch 13)

South Africa’s dangerous start is in shambles. Either side of a pair of singles, Morkel bowls four leg byes down the leg side, then Finch gets his first solid shot away with a heavy-handed slog through wide long on for another boundary. Morkel responds with a wide, then Warner flicks two through midwicket. 13 from it, 22 from Morkel’s two overs if you count the leg byes that were his fault.

Updated at 3.33pm AEST

3.01pm AEST04:01

8th over: Australia 0-43 (Warner 28, Finch 8)

ABdV immediately gets Ryan McLaren on to try to stem the bowling, and McLaren responds with two wides in his first three attempts. Finch plays a classy straight drive but can only get a single as the shot is stopped.

Don’t let that happen, says David Warner, as he mashes the next ball in a similar direction down the ground for four. That was in the air, and de Villiers was shaping to catch it at mid off, but by the time he’d taken a step towards it the ball had screamed past. David Warner gave that shot the benefit of every sinew in his body. Gracious.

A single from the last ball gives Warner the strike, and after that slow and cautious start he has righted his innings back to a run a ball.

2.55pm AEST03:55

7th over: Australia 0-35 (Warner 21, Finch 7)

Cop that! Morne Morkel has come on to bowl, and Warner has greeted him with a one-footed pull shot onto the grass bank past midwicket. Warner had no physical base to play that shot, his balance was off, he was on his back toe, but he somehow got enough forearm heat onto it to carry the distance.

He gets a single from the edge - a profitable shot today - before Finch gets a leg bye, then Warner drives through wide mid-on for two more. 10 from that over, rattling along now but South Africa could still nip back.

2.50pm AEST03:50

6th over: Australia 0-25 (Warner 14, Finch 7)

What did I say? Warner has decided the tricky early spell is over, as he plays a forward defensive shot for six. Yep, just pushed forward at Philander with such perfect timing that it carried the rope at long off. Gorgeous shot. Barely moved.

Then he takes a single, Philander has bowled a no-ball, and Finch faces what would have been a wide bouncer outside off stump, but forehands it down the ground on the stretch to get a boundary. Philander comes through and bowls another wide, and ends the over with an edge into the pad. 13 from it. Advantage Australia.

2.45pm AEST03:45

5th over: Australia 0-12 (Warner 7, Finch 3)

Just the single and a brace from that nonetheless eventful Steyn over, the DRS comes through for Australia. Good call, Finch looked confident in challenging it. Australia digging in, just wanting to get through this tricky early spell.

Updated at 2.51pm AEST

2.44pm AEST03:44

Wicket overturned

The review has worked! Finch was struck fairly high on the side of the front pad, toward the leg side, and the animation has said that would have missed completely, both high and wide. No sliver of umpire’s call to save that one for South Africa. To be fair the shout looked ok live.

2.42pm AEST03:42

WICKET! Finch 1, lbw Steyn

Finch is trapped in front and it’s given. He’s reviewed...

2.39pm AEST03:39

4th over: Australia 0-9 (Warner 6, Finch 1)

Vernon Philander is bowling beautifully. Beats Warner completely on the front foot, then gets an edge through a vacant third slip. McLaren saves a few runs with a sharp drive at midwicket. South Africa look very lively. If they get a wicket here they’ll start tasting the kill. Just a single, slow watchful start.

2.36pm AEST03:36

3rd over: Australia 0-8 (Warner 5, Finch 1)

Warner survives. A nothing shot from the short ball, trying to work away a pull, top edge high over backward square leg but Tahir couldn’t get around to it from fine leg. He seemed to lose it and wasn’t sure where it was going, and ended up getting there on the bounce. Warner takes two. Steyn’s next ball is wild and high, called wide. His hair is done. His simmering rage at Michael Clarke is available for marshmallow toasting. Warner nicks a single from the last ball thanks to a gunshot start from Finch.

2.32pm AEST03:32

2nd over: Australia 0-4 (Warner 2, Finch 1)

The Silver Vern, aka Philander, is playing his first ODI against Australia. He’s starting nicely too, getting some seam movement, getting very nice bounce, getting a thick edge from Finch that would have been an easy catch at gully, then getting a cut in the air to third man on the bounce from Warner. A leg bye as well. Unconvincing.

2.26pm AEST03:26

1st over: Australia 0-1 (Warner 1, Finch 0)

A very tidy start here from Dale Steyn, just getting a bit of shape, every ball just back of a length and just around the off stump, cramping both batsmen for room. Warner’s single to the off side is the only possible score. Sharp.

Updated at 2.29pm AEST

2.19pm AEST03:19

Some are already unimpressed.

Australia's shirt looks like a promo giveaway.

Updated at 2.22pm AEST

2.13pm AEST03:13

Word from de Villiers at the toss was that he was hoping to get a bit out of some grass cover on this deck, and I suppose there are no fears chasing runs on this surface. It will remain bouncy and true into the evening, and I don’t recall any problems with dew in Perth’s baking heat. Except it’s only 19 degrees today. Everything has changed, world. We just don’t know what to think any more.

2.10pm AEST03:10

South Africa have won the toss and elected to send in Australia. Interesting call, hoping to scare Australia early with some pace and bounce. Here are the teams.

Australia DA Warner, AJ Finch, SR Watson, MJ Clarke*, GJ Bailey, MR Marsh, GJ Maxwell, MS Wade†, MG Johnson, NM Coulter-Nile, JR Hazlewood

South AfricaHM Amla, Q de Kock†, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers*, F Behardien, DA Miller, R McLaren, VD Philander, DW Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir

2.07pm AEST03:07

Aloha Hawaii, and other cricket-loving islands around the world. Foremost among them in terms of geography is Australia, which is the location of this OBO broadcast, and the location of today’s game. We’re here at a bouncy, talked-up WACA as the hosts take on South Africa to kick this series off. Geoff Lemon with you for the first half, and looking forward to your company. Email me on geoff.lemon@theguardian.com throughout the day.

1.51pm AEST02:51

Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a little something from Russell Jackson on TV ratings:

With the star-depleted and largely forgettable early-season T20I engagements now over between Australia and South Africa, Cricket Australia wanted to talk up the blockbuster TV ratings (1.17, 1.29 and 1.65 million for each game, respectively) the games received this week. Rightly so too when the same fixtures only half-filled the revamped Adelaide Oval, drew just 21,538 to the 100,000-capacity MCG and saw 24,187 patrons spread across a little less than a third of Stadium Australia.

Cricket has undoubtedly morphed into a spectacle best consumed via large TV screens (yes yes, on mute), but what do numbers like the ones above tell us about the present position of the game in the hearts of Aussie spectators? Some say that punters have been force-fed too much sport (a theory with some merit), others that the South African series came too early in the season and more still that cash-strapped families are buckling in for the endless buffet of cricket that the Australian summer and World Cup will provide. A mixture of all three would be pretty well on the money.

CA boss James Sutherland’s claim that, “they’re pretty good numbers – most grounds around the world would be pretty happy with 25,000,” is technically correct, but it was unnecessary to add, “Who knows, by the end of the season we might see 100,000.” For a World Cup final? Sure, but not for Marchant de Lange and Nathan Reardon. The CEO was far less convincing in claiming that there were also extenuating circumstances in the form of Melbourne Cup week and the fact that two of the games fell on school nights. Both excuses could have led you to believe that it was some unknown meddler, and not CA themselves, who actually scheduled the things.

Still, it wasn’t even Sutherland’s most head-scratching moment of the week. That came when he rather bizarrely claimed that the sparse crowds in the UAE for Australia’s recent Test series with Pakistan were an “open and shut case” for night Tests rather than, say, a reflection of the fact that the games were played in 40C heat in the middle of the week in neutral territory. All of you uncommitted Pakistan fans who refused to travel over by the plane-load know where to send your emails.

Updated at 3.24pm AEST