ODI Series: Australia Rout South Africa
Australia 431/2 (Head 142, Green 118*, Marsh 100, Carey 50*) beat South Africa 155 (Brevis 49, Connolly 5/22) by 276 runs
Skipper Mitchell Marsh, opener Travis Head, and all-rounder Cameron Green smashed centuries to lead Australia to a crushing 276-run win over South Africa in today’s dead rubber in Mackay. The hosts produced a record-breaking performance in Mackay. Batting first on a flat track at the sold-out Great Barrier Reef Arena, the current one-day international (ODI) world champions amassed 431/2, their second-highest score ever in ODI history. It was also the first time that three Australian batters scored centuries in the same 50-over game.
South Africa’s hopes, chasing a daunting 432 for victory, faded quickly. The Proteas crumbled for just 155 in 24.5 overs and handed Australia their second-biggest win in ODI. It was also South Africa’s biggest defeat in the format. Young all-rounder Cooper Connolly starred with the ball, returning career-best figures of 22/5 in six overs, the best by an Australian spinner in men’s ODIs.
“It was a pretty crazy day,” Marsh laughed in the post-match press conference.
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Marsh and Head, earlier, laid the foundation with a record-breaking 250-run opening partnership, Australia’s best against South Africa in ODIs and the fifth-highest overall. Head smashed 142 in 103 balls, reaching his seventh ODI hundred in just 80 deliveries before falling to Keshav Maharaj. Marsh followed with a steady 100 off 106 balls before being caught behind.
Green stole the show, blasting an unbeaten 118 off just 55 balls, including eight towering sixes. His century came in just 47 balls, the second-fastest by an Australian in ODIs. Green and Alex Carey (50*) added an unbroken 164-run stand, lifting Australia tantalizingly close to their record 434 against South Africa in 2006.
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South Africa’s bowling attack endured a nightmare. Wiaan Mulder returned figures of 0/93 in seven overs which is the worst ever by a South African in ODIs.
The chase never got going. Australian pacers Xavier Bartlett (2/45) and Sean Abbott (2/27) struck early and reduced the Proteas to 4/50 inside nine overs. Dewald Brevis provided a brief entertainment with his 28-ball 49 that included five sixes but fell to Connolly during the collapse. Adam Zampa chipped in as the tail folded. Marnus Labuschagne grabbed two brilliant catches in the deep.
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Australia’s dominant performance not only prevented a whitewash but also showcased the depth and power in their batting lineup.
Chasing a daunting 432-run target for an unlikely victory, the Proteas couldn’t replicate their heroics in Johannesburg from 19 years ago, bowled out for just 155 in 24.5 overs. Young all-rounder Cooper Connolly claimed five wickets during the run chase, finishing with 5-22 from six overs, the best bowling figures by an Australian spinner in men’s ODIs.
It was South Africa’s heaviest defeat in ODIs and Australia’s second-biggest victory in the same format.
Pic: Getty Images
