Australia produced a blistering batting display and ruthless bowling performance to crush South Africa by 276 runs in Mackay on Sunday — inflicting on the Proteas their heaviest defeat in ODI history.
The series had already been decided after South Africa won the opening two matches, but Australia, playing only for pride, responded with a statement performance.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Openers Travis Head (142 off 103) and captain
Mitchell Marsh (100 off 106) dismantled an inexperienced South African attack, before
Cameron Green’s maiden ODI ton (118* off 55) powered the hosts to 431/2, their highest ODI total on home soil and second-best overall.
In reply, South Africa folded meekly for 155 in just 24.5 overs, unable to cope with the combination of pace up front and spin later. Left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, playing his first game of the series, ran through the lower order with career-best figures of 5-22, while seamer Sean Abbott (2-27) struck early blows by removing Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma inside the powerplay.
The result eclipsed South Africa’s previous worst ODI defeat — a 245-run hammering by England at The Oval in 2008 — and highlighted the gulf between the sides in Mackay. None of the Proteas batters managed to cross fifty, with Dewald Brevis’ 49 the only resistance before Connolly closed the innings.
Earlier, Australia’s dominance was set up by a record-breaking start. Head and Marsh shared 250 for the first wicket, Australia’s highest-ever opening stand against South Africa, bettering the 170 put on by Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden in 2002. Head’s assault, featuring 17 fours and five sixes, set the tone, while Marsh offered steady support before holing out soon after reaching his century.
Green then stole the show in the final overs, smashing eight sixes and racing to his maiden ODI hundred off just 47 balls — the third-fastest by an Australian, behind only Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner. He and Alex Carey (50* off 37) added a whirlwind 164 for the third wicket as Australia plundered 126 runs from the last 10 overs.
“It was a pretty crazy day, a full performance by the lads,” Marsh said afterwards. “But credit to South Africa, they played outstandingly in the first two games.”
Proteas skipper Bavuma admitted his side was outclassed. “We were under the pump from the first ball… they put us under pressure and we didn’t have the answers.”
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