Temba Bavuma and David Miller scored contrasting centuries to lead South Africa to an imposing total of 365 for nine after being asked to bat first in the second one-day international against Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Captain Bavuma pulled Josh Hazlewood for an early six but was forced to consolidate at 36-2 after openers Aiden Markram (0) and Quinton de Kock (15) were dismissed inside the first seven overs but Miller, who came to the crease at 93-3 in the 16th over, was in rampant form from the start and stormed to a career-best 142 from just 93 balls.
Bavuma sliced a drive against seamer Jack Edwards to cover shortly after completing his sixth ODI century, 103 from 116 balls with ten fours and two sixes, following a fourth-wicket partnership of 156 with Miller, but his job was more than done with the platform laid for a daunting total.
Miller pulled and drove a brace of sixes each against part-time spinner Matt Renshaw (3-0-29-0), seamer Xavier Bartlett (1-70) and Edwards, who had the considerable consolation of claiming 5-67 in his 10 overs, his maiden five-fer in List A cricket.
Miller’s stunning innings, which included a dozen fours and nine sixes, finally ended with a toe-ended cut against a wide delivery from Edwards, but the fun continued with the arrival of the Jansen twins, Marco smacking a four and two sixes in his 19 from 15 balls and Duan finishing unbeaten on 27 from 18 deliveries with four boundaries.
Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets at a cost of 70 in his ten overs, but it was a chastening day for experienced legspinner Adam Zampa, whose wicketless nine overs cost 77 runs.
Earlier, Markram popped a catch to cover from the first ball of the innings, while De Kock, having pulled Hazlewood for a pair of sixes, offered the first of five catches to ‘keeper Alex Carey off the same bowler before Matthew Breetzke steadied the innings with a nonetheless brisk 34 from 28 balls with six stylish fours.
Only once before has a higher total been chased at the Wanderers and that, of course, was the famous ‘438 game’ between the same two teams 20 years ago.
Both teams made changes to the starting XI after Thursday’s opening match in Durban, which South Africa won by 67 runs.
The home side released Ryan Rickelton for personal reasons, with his place in the middle order taken by Tristan Stubbs. Tony de Zorzi was replaced by Markram, who was unavailable for the opening match, also for personal reasons.
Allrounder Duan Jansen was included in place of Corbin Bosch while fast bowler Lizaad Williams took the place of Gerald Coetzee.
Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis broke a finger in the opening match and is replaced by Carey. Bartlett was included in place of the rested Mitchell Starc.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wkt), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Duan Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams.
AUSTRALIA: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey (wkt), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.