Sports
SA vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Aiden Markram, spinners keep South Africa’s series hopes alive vs Australia
NEW DELHI: Aiden Markram‘s century provided crucial support to South Africa’s spin bowlers, resulting in the hosts breaking Australia’s winning streak with a convincing 111-run victory in the third one-day international held at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
Markram displayed an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 102 runs in South Africa’s total of 338 for six.
Despite a fierce onslaught led by David Warner and Travis Head, South Africa managed to dismiss Australia for 227 runs.
Australia had previously won the first two matches of the five-match series, following a 3-0 sweep in the Twenty20 series. The tourists appeared poised for another victory as Warner and Head formed a formidable opening partnership, amassing 79 runs off just 48 balls.
During the 10-over power play, Australia reached a score of 104 for one, marking the second consecutive time they crossed the three-figure mark while fielding restrictions were in effect.
However, the course of the match shifted when left-arm spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (claiming two wickets for 29 runs) and Keshav Maharaj (capturing two wickets for 37 runs) took advantage of the spin-friendly pitch. The fast bowler Gerald Coetzee (finishing with four wickets for 50 runs) later sealed the fate of the Australian innings.
Maharaj also made a pivotal contribution in the field by executing a direct-hit run-out of Warner, who had scored 78 runs off 56 balls but lost his shoe and footing as he attempted a single.
“We needed a positive one,” said South African captain Temba Bavuma.
“The batters knuckled down and we were banking on the wicket assisting the spin bowlers and it’s exactly what it did.
“The power play didn’t go as well as we wanted but the way we clawed it back was exactly what we’re looking for.”
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said the loss was “a little slip-up” in conditions which are likely to be replicated during the World Cup in India next month.
“Hopefully we learnt a lot from it,” he said.
Markram displayed an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 102 runs in South Africa’s total of 338 for six.
Despite a fierce onslaught led by David Warner and Travis Head, South Africa managed to dismiss Australia for 227 runs.
Australia had previously won the first two matches of the five-match series, following a 3-0 sweep in the Twenty20 series. The tourists appeared poised for another victory as Warner and Head formed a formidable opening partnership, amassing 79 runs off just 48 balls.
During the 10-over power play, Australia reached a score of 104 for one, marking the second consecutive time they crossed the three-figure mark while fielding restrictions were in effect.
However, the course of the match shifted when left-arm spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (claiming two wickets for 29 runs) and Keshav Maharaj (capturing two wickets for 37 runs) took advantage of the spin-friendly pitch. The fast bowler Gerald Coetzee (finishing with four wickets for 50 runs) later sealed the fate of the Australian innings.
Maharaj also made a pivotal contribution in the field by executing a direct-hit run-out of Warner, who had scored 78 runs off 56 balls but lost his shoe and footing as he attempted a single.
“We needed a positive one,” said South African captain Temba Bavuma.
“The batters knuckled down and we were banking on the wicket assisting the spin bowlers and it’s exactly what it did.
“The power play didn’t go as well as we wanted but the way we clawed it back was exactly what we’re looking for.”
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said the loss was “a little slip-up” in conditions which are likely to be replicated during the World Cup in India next month.
“Hopefully we learnt a lot from it,” he said.
Quinton de Kock (82) and captain Temba Bavuma (57) gave South Africa an ideal start with an opening stand of 146 in 22.5 overs.
But Australia were able to slow down the scoring, with part-time off-spinner Travis Head making good use of a slow, dry pitch to bowl unchanged and take two for 39 in 10 overs.
Markram and Marco Jansen gave the innings late impetus with a sixth-wicket partnership of 63 off 31 balls which was ended by a sensational diving left-handed catch by Sean Abbott on the cover boundary off Nathan Ellis.
(With inputs from Reuters)
