Ngidi and Malan lead SA to series win

A brilliant 129 not out from Janneman Malan and an equally stellar, career-best 6-58 from Lungi Ngidi saw South Africa to a six-wicket victory against Australia in the second ODI at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Wednesday to secure the three-match series 2-0 with the last game in Potchefstroom on Saturday still to come.

Australia were bowled out for 271 in exactly 50 overs after a whirlwind start and the hosts recovered from 103 for three to reach their target at 274 for four with a comfortable nine balls to spare.

It was the sweetest riposte for the 23-year-old opening batsman after his golden duck on debut just four days earlier in Paarl when a Mitchell Starc inswinger was too good for him but Ngidi had an equal impact in winning the game.

Quinton de Kock was bowled for the third time in four innings by Mitchell Starc for a second-ball duck, but Jon-Jon Smuts made the best of an early let-off – when Pat Cummins had him caught behind off a no-ball – to make a composed 41 in a second-wicket stand of 91.

Heinrich Klaasen continued his sublime form with a run-a-ball 51 and David Miller was on hand, with Malan, to steer the home side over the line with an unbeaten 37 from just 29 balls.

A pair of 69s from captain Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short helped Australia reach their total after winning the toss and opting to bat first, but they will know they should have done a great deal better on a slow but otherwise blameless pitch.

"We were 30-40 runs short at the halfway stage, and we knew that," admitted Finch. “South Africa bowled really well in the middle overs and they deserve credit for pegging us back."

FLYING START

The tourists made a flying start, reaching 73 for one after just 10 overs but Ngidi led an inspired fightback claiming the first three wickets and three of the last four. He was fast and aggressive where appropriate but also smart and insightful when brains were more important than brawn.

David Warner (35 from 23 balls) and Finch (69 from 87 balls) put 50 on the board in just 6.3 overs before Warner spliced a cover drive to Malan and Steve Smith departed six overs later flicking a full-length delivery to Smuts at mid-wicket.

Klerksdorp-born Marnus Labuschagne arranged around 20 tickets for members of his extended family in the region to watch him play and then slapped his first delivery straight to backward point as Ngidi offered him a short delivery. Suddenly Australia were 81 for three, albeit at a scoring rate of seven runs per over.

Left-hander Short was dropped twice before reaching 20 in a stand of 77 with Finch – Andile Phehlukwayo grassing a simple return catch on 11 and Miller spilling an equally straightforward effort at mid-wicket. Finch, too, was dropped on 35 at leg slip by Smuts off Tabraiz Shamsi in what was a mediocre fielding display by the hosts.

Finch edged a flat-footed drive against Anrich Nortje to Quinton de Kock and Short lost patience against the excellent Shamsi and chopped a cut straight to Malan at backward point.

What had looked likely to be a romp for the Australians then became a trudge with Mitch Marsh (36 from 45 balls) and Alex Carey (21) doing what they could just to reach the 50th over.

Ngidi became the fastest South African to reach 50 ODI wickets – in his 25th match.

"Mark Boucher gave me the target of knocking over their 'big three' at the top of the order so I was really happy to respond to that challenge."

A smiling Malan said: "At first I was just happy to survive the first ball and get a single off it! But the credit goes to Lungi and the other bowlers for giving us a target we could chase. And JJ, Klaasy and Davey were all brilliant partners to have – they all made it much easier for me."

SOUTH AFRICA: Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock (capt & wk), JJ Smuts, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Aaron Finch (capt), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), D Arcy Short, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa