2001–02 VB Series

3 February 2002 10:30 (scorecard)

Australia  283/7 (50 overs)	v	South Africa 250/5 (50 overs)
Lee 51* (36) Boje 2–38 (10 overs)		Kallis 104* (120) Lehmann 2–28 (5 overs)

Australia won by 33 runs WACA Ground, Perth Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) & Bob Parry (Aus) Player of the match: Jacques Kallis

Australia needed a bonus point against South Africa to qualify for the finals. They lost the toss and were sent in to bat; however, they struggled early and were 7/195 in the 40th over, before Brett Lee scored 51 from 36 balls. Australia finished on 7/283, consequently needing to restrict South Africa to less than 227 to gain the bonus point. Nevertheless, it was not to be for the Australians, as Jacques Kallis compiled an unbeaten century (104), helping South Africa reach 227 with 16 balls to spare. They eventually finished on 250, and despite an Australian victory, the local team were out of the competition, upsetting many home fans.[2] Australian captain Steve Waugh wrote:

A lot has been said about the rights and wrongs of the bonus point system that ended up separating the three teams on the final ladder for the VB series, but much of it ignores one simple reason behind our early exit from the tournament. We were slow out of the blocks and we paid for it ... with the short time between the end of the Test series and the start of the VB series, there was no chance for a lead-up game, our opponents enjoyed, and without such a rehearsal we lacked the sharpness required at the top level in our first three games, we found ourselves under the pump.[3]

6 February 2002 (scorecard)

New Zealand  190/10 (47.5 overs)	v	South Africa 191/2 (45.1 overs)
McMillan 73 (99) Ntini 5–31 (10 overs)		Dippenaar 79* (107) Cairns 1–27 (8 overs)

South Africa won by 8 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) & Simon Taufel (Aus) Player of the match: Makhaya Ntini

South Africa continued their good form against New Zealand with a comfortable eight wicket win, set up by a strong bowling performance from Makhaya Ntini. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat, New Zealand lost both of their openers early, to Ntini. However a 109 wicket partnership between Stephen Fleming and Craig McMillan put the innings back on track. Once Lance Klusener dismissed the New Zealand captain for 50, they began to lose wickets regularly, with only Andre Adams making it into double figures. Ntini took the wicket of Adams to claim his second ODI five wicket haul and the innings was soon closed when Shane Bond was run-out by Jonty Rhodes. South Africa in reply lost their second wicket with 52 runs on the board but Boeta Dippenaar, who was dropped in the gully by Fleming on 40, and Jacques Kallis, guided South Africa to victory with 29 balls remaining.[4]

8 February 2002 (scorecard)

New Zealand  175/10 (41.1 overs)	v	South Africa 173/4 (38.1 overs)
Cairns 57 (73) Kallis 3–23 (5.1 overs)		Rhodes 61* (68) Adams 2–33 (8 overs)

South Africa won by 6 wickets Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) & Simon Taufel (Aus) Player of the match: Jonty Rhodes

• Rain interrupted the New Zealand innings after 16.1 overs which reduced the match to 46 overs each

Having won the toss again, Stephen Fleming elected to bat first but once more New Zealand failed to produce a competitive total and South Africa chased it down comfortably. The New Zealanders, needing a win to force the finals series into a third match, had started their innings slowly and it wasn't until the fifth over that they scored their maiden run. An entertaining run a ball 43 from Lou Vincent got the team back on track but after he fell and Jacques Kallis dismissed Craig McMillan, New Zealand were struggling at 5–72. Although a 75 run partnership from Chris Cairns and Chris Harris looked like giving New Zealand a chance of posting over 200, the tail fell cheaply due to good bowling from Allan Donald. During their innings, the match had been reduced to 46 overs due to rain and the South Africans were thus chasing a revised target of 172. Herschelle Gibbs, despite losing his opening partner Gary Kirsten for just two runs, scored an aggressive 46 to give the South Africans a good platform. Jonty Rhodes brought up his half century and accumulated 16 runs in the 38th over, bowled by Andre Adams, before a pull to the boundary by Mark Boucher off Daniel Vettori the following over gave South Africa the title.[5]