South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series against Australia in Australia and in the process created a record of sorts by winning 5 consecutive bilateral ODI series against Australia. Winning the match by a comfortable 84 runs was nothing short of embarrassing the Australian side, which once again failed to reach 200 while chasing.
The match played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, saw South Africa put in yet another amazing performance, with Lungi Ngidi in particular tearing into the middle and lower order of the Aussies and helping himself to a much-deserved fifer.
The Proteas batted first, and though Markram ( captaining the side in place of a rested Temba Bavuma) and Rickleton left early, Mathew Breetzke and de Zorzi steadied the ship. Breetzke, in particular, played beautifully to arrest the slide and added crucial 67 runs with Zorzi.
Once Zorzi perished, Breetzke continued piling the runs at a brisk pace with Tristan Stubbs. They both added another 89 runs before Breetzke fell to Nathan Ellis for a well made 88. Dewald Brevis left soon after triggering a collapse. Nathan Ellis and Zampa bowled extremely well to pull back things for Australia and restrict the score to 277, which once appeared to be going easily over 300. The Aussies were in the game. They just had to bat sensibly.
Travis Head has had a poor series so far, starting from the T20s, and once again, he left very early. If Travis Head does not contribute, Australia struggle, and so it happened.
Marnus Labuschagne, who too is having a forgettable time with the bat, came and left, adding just a solitary single to the score. The Aussies were 7/2. Skipper Mitch Marsh didn’t last long either and Australia were looking down the barrel.
Cameron Green and Josh Inglis got together to stitch a crucial partnership of 67 runs, but the Proteas struck a telling blow. Senuran Muthusamy slowed one through the air, and Green mistimed it to give a return catch to Muthusamy. The partnership was broken.
Josh Inglis, on the other played magnificently, undeterred and unaffected, not only by the bowling but also by what was happening with his fellow batters on the other end.
The breakthrough opened the match completely as Lungi Ngidi got into the act. He mixed his slower ones effectively in between his good pace. Alex Carey and a woefully out-of-sorts Aaron Hardie perished in no time, and once Ngidi had Josh Inglis caught behind, the match was completely in the grasp of the Proteas. Inglis departed with a well-made 87.
The rest of the lower order fell cheaply as the Australians folded for 193, conceding an 84-run loss. Another poor batting display and another defeat for Australia.
South Africa played exceedingly well. No doubt they have a terrific side and tend to play better in longer formats of the game. The last match of the series is scheduled for 24th at the same venue. The Proteas would be looking for a whitewash.
Lungi Ngidi was declared the Player of the Match.
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