In Mackay on Friday, South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match series against world champions Australia. Lungi Ngidi’s outstanding five-wicket haul helped secure an 84-run victory in the second one-day international. Opting to bat first, South Africa was all out for 277 with five balls remaining in their innings. Half-centuries from Matthew Breetzke (88) and Tristan Stubbs (74) had South Africa looking on track to surpass the 300-run mark at one point.
However, the final total didn’t matter as Ngidi (5-42) and his fellow bowlers dismissed Australia for 193 in just 37.4 overs, clinching the series with a match to spare. Josh Inglis top-scored for Australia with 87, but the team’s total marked the fourth consecutive time they have been bowled out for under 200 in a home ODI.
South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, was rested for the match as part of his workload management following a hamstring strain in June. Aiden Markram stepped in as captain but was dismissed for a duck in the second over. Xavier Bartlett claimed his second wicket when he had Ryan Rickelton caught behind in the sixth over. Breetzke took on bowler Aaron Hardie in his first over, hitting him for two sixes and a four, and went on to form a 67-run partnership with Tony de Zorzi (38) to stabilize the innings. Adam Zampa (3-63) broke the partnership in the 16th over by taking a return catch from de Zorzi. Nathan Ellis then dismissed both Breetzke and Dewald Brevis, but at 233-5 in 40 overs with two set batters at the crease, South Africa was still in a strong position for a late flourish.
Australia mounted a superb comeback in the final 10 overs, taking the last five wickets while only giving away 44 runs. Cameron Green equaled an Australian ODI record for a non-wicketkeeper by taking four catches. Australia, who had won the preceding T20 series, lost openers Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne within the first four overs. The situation could have been worse, but Stubbs dropped catches from both Green at the slips and Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh at cover. Marsh couldn’t capitalize on his reprieve, falling for 18, but Green (35) and Inglis kept fighting. Senuran Muthusamy took a return catch to break Green’s partnership, and Ngidi effectively sealed the victory when he had Inglis caught behind in the 36th over. Both teams will remain in Mackay for Sunday’s final match.
