South Africa delivered a commanding all-round performance to beat Australia by 98 runs in the first One Day International at Cazaly’s Stadium on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Batting first, the Proteas posted a formidable total of 296 for 8 from their 50 overs. Aiden Markram led the way with a composed 82 from 81 balls at the top of the order, while captain Temba Bavuma added 65 from 74 deliveries. Matthew Breetzke, coming in at number four, impressed with a fluent 57 off 56 balls after the dismissal of Ryan Rickelton, who contributed 33.
Wiaan Mulder provided a late surge, striking an unbeaten 31 from 26 balls to lift the visitors to what would prove to be a match-winning total.
Australia’s bowlers struggled for consistency throughout the innings. Returning seamer Josh Hazlewood went wicketless, while part-time off-spinner Travis Head emerged as the unlikely hero with the ball. Head claimed 4 for 57, including the wicket of ODI debutant Dewald Brevis. Ben Dwarshuis also struck twice, removing both Markram and Bavuma, although he proved expensive overall.
Australia’s chase began brightly, with Head and captain Mitchell Marsh racing to 60 without loss inside seven overs. However, South Africa turned the tide with the introduction of spin.
Prenelan Subrayen, making his ODI debut, dismissed Head to break the opening stand. From there, Keshav Maharaj took centre stage. The experienced left-arm spinner ripped through Australia’s middle order, claiming 5 for 33 as the hosts collapsed from 61 for 1 to 89 for 6 in a devastating spell.
Marsh resisted with a fighting 88 from 96 balls, including 10 boundaries, but found little support from the lower order. His innings ended when he top-edged a short ball from Nandre Burger, and Lungi Ngidi cleaned up the tail with figures of 2 for 28 as Australia were bowled out for 198 in the 41st over.