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Markram century and spinners give Proteas victory

cricket12 September 2023 18:14| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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A brilliant, unbeaten 102 from Aiden Markran and half centuries from Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma helped South Africa to post a total of 338-6, resulting in a comprehensive victory by 111-runs in the third one-day international against Australia at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.

Australia were bundled out for just 227 in reply with spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (7-0-29-2) and Keshav Maharaj (10-2-37-2) changing the course of the match after a rampaging start to the run-chase from the tourists.

South Africa looked on course for an ever larger score when they reached 190-2 after 30 overs but Australia fought their way back into the innings with tight bowling and creative captaincy from Mitchell Marsh.

De Kock was patient to start, scoring just three runs from his first 18 balls before accelerating in glorious style to reach 82 from just 77 balls (10x4, 2x6) during an opening stand of 146 with Bavuma (57) who was happy to play a largely supporting role.

Reeza Hendricks contributed a slick 39 from 45 balls before Marnus Labuschagne ran him out with a direct hit from cover to change the tempo of the innings but Markram was in fine touch in the closing overs moving to his second ODI century by smashing the last ball of the innings from Josh Hazlewood (0-74) past the bowler for his ninth four to go with four sixes.

Part-time offspinner Travis Head also contributed to an excellent comeback from the tourists with a fine return of 2-39 from his ten overs and provided the first breakthrough when De Kock sliced a sharp turner to David Warner at backward point.

Bavuma followed just seven balls later when he slapped a drive against legspinner Tanveer Sangha to Marsh at extra cover and the next two wickets also fell in quick succession when Hendricks was run out and Heinrich Klaasen (0) missed a hard sweep against Head and lbw four balls later.

Marsh kept an extra fielder inside the 30-metre circle inviting David Miller (8) to hit over the top and took the catch himself at mid-on as Miller accepted the invitation and duly miscued.

But Marco Jansen played a delightful cameo of 32 from only 16 balls (4x4, 1x6) to regain the initiative before holing out to long on where Sean Abbott held an astonishing, one-handed catch running at full speed.

SA SPINNERS COME TO THE PARTY

South Africa were subjected to a withering assault in the first 10 overs of the run-chase in which their opponents reached an eye-watering 104-1 for the sole loss of Head (38 from 24 balls) who inside-edged a drive against Sisanda Magala to Gerald Coetzee at mid-on.

But with the seamers all conceding over ten runs per over the spinners changed the course of the match.

Mitch Marsh (29) miscued Shamsi to Miller at long on and Warner was run out by a direct hit from Maharaj after slipping out of his shoe in attempting to regain his ground.

De Kock then put South Africa firmly in control with two smart stumpings as Shamsi fooled Marnus Labuschagne (15) with a googly and Maharaj fizzed a delivery past the outside edge of Marcus Stoinis who departed for 10.

Coetzee bowled Alex Carey (12), had Tim David (8) controversially caught by substitute fielder Bjorn Fortuin (confirmed by the third umpire) and bowled tailender Tanveer Sangha for a duck to finish with 4-50 from 6.3 overs.

Australia still hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after victories by three wickets and 123 runs in the first two matches of the series at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.

The fourth and fifth matches will be staged in Centurion and Johannesburg on Friday and Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wkt), Temba Bavuma (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wkt), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Josh Hazlewood

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