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Third time lucky
Wisden CricInfo staff - February 8, 2002
South Africa won the annual Australian triangular one-day series for the first time. On the other occasions they had entered, in 1993-94 and 1997-98, South Africa won the first final, only to lose the last two. Both times, Australia were their opponents. They have also played three Test series in Australia since returning in 1991-92, drawing one and losing two, they reached the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and they drew a one-day series in August 2000.
This is the 22nd Australian triangular tournament. Australia have won 14, West Indies five, and England, Pakistan and now South Africa one each. In only four of those 22 series have the full set of best-of-three (or best-of-five, as it was between 1980 and 1982) finals been used.
South Africa's win was their 14th in their last 15 completed one-day internationals against New Zealand, a run that goes back to the match at Napier in March 1999. In that time there have also been two no-results.
Andre Adams took 2 for 33, his best one-day figures in his seventh match. His previous-best figures were 2 for 52, against Australia at Melbourne in Match 10 of this VB Series.
Jonty Rhodes was Man of the Match for his unbeaten 61, while Shane Bond – who before this tournament had never played a one-day international – was Man of the Series. Bond took 21 wickets at an average of 16.38, and his strike rate was 23.52 – a wicket every four overs.
Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
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