Key events
10th over: Australia 67-2 (Marsh 28, Green 3) Another tidy one from Subrayen. Just three singles off that one. South Africa’s tweakers are putting the squeeze on.
9th over: Australia 63-2 (Marsh 26, Green 1) Well, what a difference a couple of overs can make. Two wickets from two spinners has South Africa back in this one. Maharaj got Marnus with a ripper and almost squeezed one past Green first up. Cam got off the mark with a single and Marsh also added one to the total with a toe-end drive down the ground.
WICKET! Labuschagne lbw Maharaj 1 (Australia 61-2)
That is a jaffa! What a beauty from Maharaj. His first ball drifts towards Labuschagne before ripping across him. Marnus was totally squared up and played all around it with a push from the bottom hand. He’s had his struggles against left-arm spinners but there’s no shame going out to that one. He reviewed but never looked confident. Three reds confirm it was hitting the top of off after pitching on leg. Sometimes you just have to give credit to the bowler.
Marnus is pinned on the pads and is given out! He reviews, but doesn’t look confident. Marahaj, bowling his first ball, was convinced. Let’s see….
8th over: Australia 61-1 (Marsh 25, Labuschagne 1) A great over from Subrayen turns momentum slightly back towards the Saffas with a crucial wicket. Marnus, back in the team, takes five balls to get off the mark with a smear wide of mid-off.
WICKET! Head st Rickelton b Subrayen 27 (Australia 60-1)
From nowhere! That was totally against the run of play. Credit to the bowler who slowed the pace right down, perhaps spotting that Head was eager to charge down the track. It also held up in the pitch and by the time Head reached it he was in no position to play the heave over the leg side. A simple job for the keeper behind the stumps gets the breakthrough South Africa desperately needed.
7th over: Australia 60-0 (Head 27, Marsh 25) A change of ends for Ngidi but it’s still a handy over for the Aussies. It was more or less tidy, despite a leg side wide, until Marsh came on strike for the last ball. The big opener once again spotted the slower ball early and climbed into a lash through the off side for four.
6th over: Australia 53-0 (Head 26, Marsh 21) Bavuma has no choice but to go to spin early, tossing the ball to Prenelen Subrayen inside the powerplay. The Aussies are watchful, taking just three singles down the ground. Some neat fielding by Maharaj in the covers keeps things tidy.
5th over: Australia 50-0 (Head 25, Marsh 19) Burger takes a pasting. Five boundaries in the set. One was a genuine edge off Head’s bat, but the rest were all crunched off the middle. He started by swatting down the ground, then there was a wide before a heave over midwicket. Next came the edge before two thumps through the off-side.
4th over: Australia 29-0 (Head 5, Marsh 19) This was a better over from Ngidi who kept Head quiet, reducing him to just a sliced single down to deep third. Then a slower ball was served up to Marsh who pressed forward and belted it over cover for four. Bavuma has his hands on his hips. This is threatening to get out of hand early on for the tourists.
3rd over: Australia 24-0 (Head 4, Marsh 15) Marsh throws his hand at the first delivery he faces from Burger and flashes it over point for four. Burger straightens and gets Marsh lunging forward, finding the inside half of the bat, but the burly Aussie gets enough wood on it to see it trickle towards the midwicket boundary. A bumper brings out a hoik and a top edge, but it lands safely in deep in front of fine leg.
Good start for Australia.
2nd over: Australia 14-0 (Head 4, Marsh 5) Lungi Ngidi opens the other end. He’s got it swinging early but one starts too straight and continues to hoop down the leg side, flying wide of a diving Rickelton for five runs. Ngidi tightens up but Marsh, hanging on the back foot, picks one up and hoists it towards cow corner for a one-bounce four. A single towards mid-on keeps him on strike.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Head 4, Marsh 0) Burger is over the wicket to Head looking to angle it back into the Aussie. It’s quick – around the mid 140s – but there’s width on offer. Twice Head picks out the fielders in a packed off-side but he threads the needle with a lashing drive and hits the first boundary of the chase.
Burger v Head. Lefty v lefty. Lovely stuff. And they’re off!
The Proteas have gathered on the boundary. They’re ready to let rip.
No Rabada so a big job for some of the deupities. I’m really excited to see Nandre Burger let rip with that meaty left arm of his.
And with two spinners in the mix this could be interesting during the middle overs.
It’ll be a good chase from here but I’m going to stick my neck out and say Australia get there with a couple overs to spare.
Daniel Gallan
Thanks Martin, a top innings from you mate.
Hello everyone. The commentators, including Martin, reckon this is a handy total by the Saffas. It is a record total on this ground, so there’s that. But this feels about 20 to 30 short for me.
Maybe that’s me being a pessimist after the shocking trio of results for my countrymen over the weekend. (Please, no mention of the rugby, the T20 cricket or the loss of Dricus du Plessis, I promise my Aussie mates have given me enough stick already).
So, can the bowlers give the Rainbow Nation something to smile about? We’ll find out soon enough.
Thanks for following along through the first half of this ODI. Fans in the Top End have already enjoyed three exciting white-ball matches and another looks to be on the cards in Cairns. Daniel Gallan will take the reins from here as Australia chase a tricky target.
South Africa opener Aiden Markram was in total control from the get-go to compile 82 from 81 balls before giving up his wicket with a thin edge to the keeper, while skipper Temba Bavuma added 65 while steering his side through the middle overs. Matthew Breetzke (57) was just about to get motoring when he holed out in the deep but Australia would have breathed a sigh of relief when Dewald Brevis (6) was caught second ball in his ODI debut.
Josh Hazlewood (0-36) clamped down with a typically tight line and length as South Africa were happy to see off the quick, but few would have predicted Travis Head (4-57) doing most of the damage.
Australia like to chase – especially when Mitch Marsh has the reins – and will like their chances of reaching their target under lights even after South Africa compiled the highest total of the six ODIs that have been played at the venue.
Australia need 297 to win
Wiaan Mulder ends the South Africa innings with a huge six to lift the tourists to 296-8. It was just the third six of the innings as South Africa relied on more sensible batting to build a record total at Cazalys Stadium without taking too many risks.
WICKET! Subrayen run out (Head) 1 (South Africa 285-8)
Travis Head, you can’t do that! Or can he? Wiaan Mulder plays a straight drive and the ball deflects off Head’s right hand and onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Whether Head meant it or not, only he will truly know. But he appears to have cupped his hand to direct the ball behind him, and is certainly a freakish enough cricketer that I’m willing to back him in.
49th over: South Africa 285-8 (Mulder 22, Burger 0)
WICKET! Maharaj c Green b Head 13 (South Africa 284-7)
Keshav Maharaj steps back to give himself room but can only slice the shot to Cameron Green inside the long-off boundary. Travis Head has four wickets and three balls remaining to claim his first ODI five-for.
48th over: South Africa 281-6 (Mulder 21, Maharaj 11) Nathan Ellis is back again and bowling to Keshav Maharaj. The South Africa spinner sees off a couple of dot balls before swinging wildly for a hard-earned single. Maharaj ends the over back on strike and clubs Ellis to the mid-off boundary. Ellis ends wicketless and goes for 54 runs from his 10 overs.
47th over: South Africa 275-6 (Mulder 20, Maharaj 6) South Africa have posted the highest-score in the six ODIs that have been held at Cazalys Stadium though the sense is that they have left too many behind with some overly cautious batting. Four singles from Zampa’s 10th over and he finishes with 1 for 58.
46th over: South Africa 271-6 (Mulder 18, Maharaj 4) Ben Dwarshuis perhaps outsmarts Temba Bavuma with some clever bowling around the wicket to leave South Africa on the ropes for the death overs. Keshav Maharaj gets off the mark with an unconvincing thick edge that races to the third man boundary.
WICKET! Bavuma b Dwarshuis 65 (South Africa 266-6)
The skipper has been the glue in the South Africa innings but they will have to complete their overs without a recognised batter. Dwarshuis comes around the wicket and angles the ball across Bavuma who drags it back onto his stumps.
45th over: South Africa 264-5 (Bavuma 64, Mulder 17) Wiaan Mulder hammers a square drive off one knee all the way to the rope. That was as much class and timing as it was power, and one of the shots of the day. South Africa use the gaps well to make it a low-risk but reasonable-reward over.
44th over: South Africa 253-5 (Bavuma 58, Mulder 12) Wiaan Mulder finds a much-needed boundary with a clever late cut that races away to the boundary. Another four from a pull shot makes this South Africa’s best over for a long stretch. It has been a slow burn but 300 could still be on the cards.
43rd over: South Africa 242-5 (Bavuma 53, Mulder 6) A stoic knock from Temba Bavuma hasn’t been one to set the hearts racing but the South Africa skipper deserves credit for guiding the innings as he reaches a half-century. A sweep picks up two runs to take him past fifty off 64 balls.
42nd over: South Africa 236-5 (Bavuma 49, Mulder 4) Nathan Ellis is back on and so are the South African struggles with lifting the run rate. The visitors are suddenly looking short on wickets but four singles are not quite what is needed at this late stage.
WICKET! Brevis c Carey b Head 6 (South Africa 230-5)
Dewald Brevis finally gets his shot in his ODI and quickly learns that if you live by the sword you can die by the sword. The South African rising star sends his first ball over Travis Head and well and truly over the rope. But his second shot doesn’t have enough on it against a stiff breeze and Alex Carey takes the catch just inside the long-on boundary. That was certainly entertaining. But not sure that was worth the wait.
41st over: South Africa 232-5 (Bavuma 47, Mulder 2)
WICKET! Stubbs c Green b Head 0 (South Africa 224-4)
Tristan Stubbs is straight on the attack as he steps back to give himself room but mis-times a loft that flies straight to Cameron Green at long-off.
40th over: South Africa 223-3 (Bavuma 46, Stubbs 0) Adam Zampa is back on as the bowling changes keep South Africa on their toes. Some lazy running between wickets almost leads to a dismissal, before the leg-spinner strikes to send Matthew Breetzke on his way.
WICKET! Breetzke c Hardie b Zampa 57 (South Africa 223-3)
Matthew Breetzke is done with waiting and seeks to lift the run rate. But the right-hander gets too far under a slog sweep and a top edge sails high to Aaron Hardie in the deep. Tristan Stubbs comes out while Australia perhaps won’t mind South Africa’s big-hitting star of the T20 series Dewald Brevis being left to bide his time.
39th over: South Africa 216-2 (Bavuma 45, Breetzke 51) Matthew Breetzke looks the more likely to get South Africa’s innings rocking and the right-hander raises his bat for the third time in as many internationals in the format. The 26-year-old now has two fifties and a ton from his three ODIs with time on his side to reach triple figures again. This half-century comes with a glance off Hazlewood to the rope. Bavuma adds another boundary with one of the shots of the day as he steps back and gets under a smash over cover.
38th over: South Africa 206-2 (Bavuma 40, Breetzke 46) Australia’s bowlers are on top as their variety in pace, line and length leaves the South Africa batters struggling to get them away. Temba Bavuma in particular seems to be eating up the deliveries with his 40 coming from 56 balls while the real firepower sits idle in the sheds.
37th over: South Africa 202-2 (Bavuma 39, Breetzke 43) It doesn’t get any easier for the South Africa duo as Josh Hazlewood returns. Breetzke finds a boundary with a loft over mid-off that might not have been timed perfectly but still reaches the rope along a dry outfield. Hazlewood has gone for 26 runs off seven overs so far.
36th over: South Africa 195-2 (Bavuma 37, Breetzke 39) Nathan Ellis brings out all his tricks as the South Africa pair seem to be trying to lift the run rate but have trouble getting the quick away. The visitors have plenty of fireworks in the sheds but are running out of overs to let them do their full damage.
35th over: South Africa 191-2 (Bavuma 36, Breetzke 38) Aaron Hardie is recalled for his second over after going for 13 runs off his first much earlier in the innings. And the South Africans seem intent on targeting the medium-pacer again with Bavuma leading the way. The skipper steps down the pitch to loft Hardie over cover to the rope before the Australian responds with a quicker ball that almost finds a way through. A word here and there suggests a nice little battle could be brewing between the pair.
34th over: South Africa 184-2 (Bavuma 31, Breetzke 36) Matthew Breetzke is moving now. Nathan Ellis mixes up his pace and length but the South African quickly picks up a shorter ball to casually square drive it to the rope. That’s drinks with this game evenly poised.
33rd over: South Africa 179-2 (Bavuma 31, Breetzke 31) Matthew Breetzke targets Labuschagne and dispatches the part-timer for much-needed back-to-back boundaries. A full toss firstly gets what it deserves as Breetzke sends it square to the rope but the next almost leads to his dismissal as the ball is hit high and over Alex Carey at deep midwicket. The Test keeper seems to lose the ball in the sun but might not have picked up the flight early enough.
32nd over: South Africa 169-2 (Bavuma 30, Breetzke 22) Zampa has clamped down on the South Africa skipper but Bavuma finally finds a boundary with a sweep that beats Hazlewood at backward square.
31st over: South Africa 164-2 (Bavuma 25, Breetzke 22) Marnus Labuschagne takes the ball for the first time today as spin continues to contain the flow of runs. Four singles are all that South Africa can find off the part-timer as the overs now feel like they are ticking away.
30th over: South Africa 160-2 (Bavuma 23, Breetzke 20) Fast glovework from Josh Inglis might have caught Temba Bavuma out of his crease as the review is sent upstairs. The South Africa skipper was out of his crease but has just managed to get his trailed foot back in time.
29th over: South Africa 155-2 (Bavuma 20, Breetzke 18) Travis Head returns but a sublime cover drive from Matthew Breetzke races away to the boundary as South Africa begin to build another strong partnership.
28th over: South Africa 149-2 (Bavuma 19, Breetzke 13) SIX! Breetzke takes a step down the crease and clobbers Dwarshuis toward a vacant long-on and beyond the rope. That was sweetly timed and just what South Africa needed. Bavuma joins in with a pull shot but his timing is off a little and the skipper has to settle for two.
27th over: South Africa 139-2 (Bavuma 16, Breetzke 6) A trademark Josh Hazlewood over limits South Africa to another three singles. A pull shot from each batter is the closest they come to testing the Australia quick’s length.
26th over: South Africa 136-2 (Bavuma 15, Breetzke 4) Ben Dwarshuis sends down another tidy six deliveries as the South Africa batters keep searching for singles but can only add three.
25th over: South Africa 133-2 (Bavuma 14, Breetzke 2) Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack as Australia look to turn the screws. Breetzke takes time to pick up the line before finding a single to mid-off.
24th over: South Africa 132-2 (Bavuma 14, Breetzke 1) Ben Dwarshuis gets the breakthrough that Australia needed but it’s not enough to bring Dewald Brevis to the crease as Matthew Breetzke joins the skipper in his third ODI.
WICKET! Markram c Inglis b Dwarshuis 82 (South Africa 131-2)
Aiden Markram gives up much of his hard work as he feathers a dab to Josh Inglis behind the stumps. The South Africa opener is on his way for a classy 82 off 81 balls with nine boundaries, though he will rue not making a bigger score after looking so composed.
23rd over: South Africa 130-1 (Markram 82, Bavuma 13) Zampa screams for a catch as the ball flies off the toe of Markram’s bat before falling safely over midwicket. That’s the closest Australia have come to a second wicket for some time as the alarm bells start ringing.
22nd over: South Africa 124-1 (Markram 78, Bavuma 11) Mitch Marsh keeps ringing the changes as Australia get increasingly desperate for a breakthrough. Ben Dwarshuis comes back for his second spell after going for 16 runs from his first three overs. South Africa keep picking up the singles with another five off Dwarshuis.
21st over: South Africa 119-1 (Markram 75, Bavuma 9) Adam Zampa comes back into the attack as Australia need to not only restrict the run rate but perhaps even find a couple of wickets. Both batters work their way around the crease to work with the spin and ease to five singles.
20th over: South Africa 114-1 (Markram 72, Bavuma 7) Temba Bavuma is yet to really find his timing but puts any concerns aside as he pulls Nathan Ellis over midwicket for his first boundary. The South Africa batters pick out the gaps from there for another five singles.
