South Africa vs Australia : 3 T20I & 5 ODI in SA: Aug 30-sep 17,2023 - Page 8

brilliant win for South Africa in the decider and they have come from behind to clinch the series 3-2. After losing the toss and having been inserted into bat, South Africa were in a bit of bother at 103/4 but fifties from Markram and Miller and a couple of blazing cameos in the death overs from Jansen and Phehlukwayo ensured that the hosts breached the 300-run mark on a two-paced track. In the run-chase, Warner and Marsh started fluently but Jansen changed the flow with a double-wicket maiden, nipping out both Warner and Inglis.

Marsh and Labuschagne got together and kept the scoreboard ticking. It was looking like Australia will push the hosts on the back foot as Marsh went past his fifty and was looking dangerous. But, it was Jansen again who got the better of the big fish and then followed it up with another double-wicket over, sending Labuschagne and Carey back to the hut and took a 5-fer. And after that, it was the Maharaj show. He bowled in probing channels and sliced through the Australian lower middle-order and tail in a jiffy. Eventually, the visitors were bowled out for 193 and handed the Proteas a massive 122-run victory. Stick around for the presentations...

Mitchell Marsh: Certainly a missed opportunity. Few guys going down is challenging. Ultimately, fell short with the bat. Couldn't build partnerships. All in all, a lot of positives to be taken. Unfortunately, South Africa got over the line today. We have to sit down and got through that. We have an ODI against India on Friday, some guys will be back. We were under the pump when they got the bigger totals. They batted really well in a couple of games. There's a big world cup in front and looking forward to that. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It would have been nice to come here and win both the series. But hats off to South Africa for fighting back.

Aiden Markram | Player of the Series: You can't always guarantee performances but our batting unit has been doing really well since the last 18 months. Going forward, we are trying to play a smarter and braver brand of cricket as well and I'm thankful it has come off for us in this series. You still trying to balance that positive mindset and also take responsibility. After each game, you take a lesson and try not to repeat the same mistake. Litter bit better, I felt it was a bit of scratchy series from a personal point of view. I managed to contribute in the last two games and I am happy with that. It's a work in progress, we take it game by game and day by day and up the skill as well.

Marco Jansen | Player of the Match: There's a not a lot of days where you cash in both with bat and ball but to do that today was fulfilling. These types of performances give you confidence as a players. (On what he enjoyed the most today) The batting, I don't get much opportunities to bat much. It's different conditions and we have to adapt to the conditions and express ourselves as we did today.

Australia beaten with 95 ball spares

SA won series 3/2 cong

Australia :124/2>>>193 all out (34.1)(Mitchell Marsh 71, Labu 44, Abbott 23, Green 18)

Bowling

Lungi Ngidi-5/0/23/0
Gerald Coetzee-6/0/47/0
Marco Jansen-8/1/39/5
Andile Phehlukwayo-6/0/44/1
Keshav Maharaj-9.1/2/33/4

Marco Jansen MOTM

Markram POTS

Cong

Aus warm up for india 3 ODI & Mega Events....

Temba Bavuma: Australia really put us under pressure. We had conversation around character with the ball. We didn't have a look at our skills but it was about looking at the overall personality of the team. Even if we have our backs on the wall, we have the team to bounce back. We've created a nice momentum with World Cup in a couple weeks. I was having a conversation with Aiden, in the first game we had an opportunity to win the game but we didn't. The confidence that we have gained from this series, that is something which we can't lose. I was talking to the bowlers and they said it was the best kind of preparation that we can have, bowling in pressure situations. We're in the best space we could possibly be in. Players don't see it getting any tougher than it did. For me, it's every single individual having the belief and knowing they can make the play for the team.

So, here's the time for the glory moment! Temba Bavuma has been presented with the trophy and he is posing for photographs along with his teammates. The South African players are now taking a walk all around the ground and the crowd is cheering them on. These are emotional moments for Quinton de Kock as he signs off in his final ODI game in front of his home crowd. He would have happy memories to cherish because winning a series for your country always provides immense joy!

So, that’s it from our side. Australia were dominant in the T20Is and whitewashed South Africa 3-0. It looked like it will be the same story in the ODIs as well as they won the first two matches. But, a resilient South African side turned things around and proved their mettle. They won three games in a row and that too by a margin of more than 100 runs each time. They will head into the World Cup with immense confidence. Meanwhile, Australia would have things to ponder upon. They head to India in a few days to take on the Men in Blue for a 3-match ODI series just before the World Cup. They would want to correct the chink in their armour before the mega event.