SA vs AUS | Markram, Jansen Star In Proteas Series Win In Quinton de Kock Final Home ODI
Marco Jansen finished with a remarkable all-round performance in decider (Twitter)
South Africa completed their 122-run routing over Australia to script one of the most remarkable ODI comebacks in history. Trailing 0-2 upfront at one stage, hosts registered comprehensive wins in the subsequent three games to seal the five-match series 3-2.
The win also gave South Africa’s ODI outbound star Quinton de Kock a fitting 50-overs farewell at his home ground before departing to India for the imminent 2023 World Cup.
Markram leads SA to their third successive 300-plus total
South Africa lost skipper Temba Bavuma for a duck in the second over owing to a colossal mix-up with opening partner Quinton de Kock. Meanwhile, Rassie van der Dussen at number three failed to convert his start to hand Australia’s Sean Abbott his first wicket of the day.
Quinton de Kock scored 27 in his final ODI match at home while previous game’s centurion Heinrich Klaasen was cleaned up by his newfound nemesis Adam Zampa for just six.
At 103-4, Aiden Markram took South Africa’s total past the 200-run mark by sharing 109 runs with in-form batter David Miller. The latter of the two clubbed his second successive 50-plus score this series, while Marco Jansen provided the necessary death-overs surge with his attacking 23-ball 47.
Andile Phehlukwayo also clubbed a six-laden 19-ball 38 as the Proteas finished their 50 overs at 315-9, their third consecutive 300-plus total against Australia.
Zampa, who finished with record worst figures in Centurion, accounted for three South African wickets in the decider to finish with 3-71. Abbott snared two while Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis and Tim David all secured a wicket each from their ends.
Jansen, Maharaj undo Marsh attack at the top
Captain Mitchell Marsh opened the innings with David Warner in the absence of injured Travis Head. The skipper clubbed six boundaries and six sixes in his 56-ball stay while making an aggressive 71 in a daunting run-chase. His partner Warner and number three Josh Inglis, however, were removed cheaply by Marco Jansen as Australia slumped to 34-2 in four overs.
Marsh shared 90 runs with in-form Marnus Labuschagne in the subsequent 16 overs to take Australia to 124-2. However, Jansen returned with a fresh three-wicket burst to dismantle the visitor’s top-order at 136-5. The speedster, who scored 47 with the bat, ended up accounting for each of Australia’s top-five batters in the run-chase to finish with 5-39 from eight overs.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj polished off the tail with a four-fer to restrict the Australians within 122 runs short of their target.
South Africa sealed the series 3-2 to wrap up their pre-World Cup 2023 preparations in style. Australia, on the other hand, will take flight for India to play a three-match series prior to the tournament.
Brief Scores:
South Africa: 315-9 (50)
Aiden Markram 93 (87), David Miller 63 (65)
Adam Zampa 3-71 (10), Sean Abbott 2-54 (10)
Australia: 193 (34.1)
Mitchell Marsh 71 (56), Marnus Labuschagne 44 (63)
Marco Jansen 5-39 (8), Keshav Maharaj 4-33 (9.1)
South Africa win by 122 runs, pocket series 3-2
.jpg)
.jpg "Kohli is happy")
 "Aakash Saini")
