Key events
32nd over: South Africa 169-2 (Bavuma 30, Breetzke 22) Zampa has clamped down on the South Africa skipper but Bavuma finally finds a boundary with a sweep that beats Hazlewood at backward square.
31st over: South Africa 164-2 (Bavuma 25, Breetzke 22) Marnus Labuschagne takes the ball for the first time today as spin continues to contain the flow of runs. Four singles are all that South Africa can find off the part-timer as the overs now feel like they are ticking away.
30th over: South Africa 160-2 (Bavuma 23, Breetzke 20) Fast glovework from Josh Inglis might have caught Temba Bavuma out of his crease as the review is sent upstairs. The South Africa skipper was out of his crease but has just managed to get his trailed foot back in time.
29th over: South Africa 155-2 (Bavuma 20, Breetzke 18) Travis Head returns but a sublime cover drive from Matthew Breetzke races away to the boundary as South Africa begin to build another strong partnership.
28th over: South Africa 149-2 (Bavuma 19, Breetzke 13) SIX! Breetzke takes a step down the crease and clobbers Dwarshuis toward a vacant long-on and beyond the rope. That was sweetly timed and just what South Africa needed. Bavuma joins in with a pull shot but his timing is off a little and the skipper has to settle for two.
27th over: South Africa 139-2 (Bavuma 16, Breetzke 6) A trademark Josh Hazlewood over limits South Africa to another three singles. A pull shot from each batter is the closest they come to testing the Australia quick’s length.
26th over: South Africa 136-2 (Bavuma 15, Breetzke 4) Ben Dwarshuis sends down another tidy six deliveries as the South Africa batters keep searching for singles but can only add three.
25th over: South Africa 133-2 (Bavuma 14, Breetzke 2) Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack as Australia look to turn the screws. Breetzke takes time to pick up the line before finding a single to mid-off.
24th over: South Africa 132-2 (Bavuma 14, Breetzke 1) Ben Dwarshuis gets the breakthrough that Australia needed but it’s not enough to bring Dewald Brevis to the crease as Matthew Breetzke joins the skipper in his third ODI.
WICKET! Markram c Inglis b Dwarshuis 82 (South Africa 131-2)
Aiden Markram gives up much of his hard work as he feathers a dab to Josh Inglis behind the stumps. The South Africa opener is on his way for a classy 82 off 81 balls with nine boundaries, though he will rue not making a bigger score after looking so composed.
23rd over: South Africa 130-1 (Markram 82, Bavuma 13) Zampa screams for a catch as the ball flies off the toe of Markram’s bat before falling safely over midwicket. That’s the closest Australia have come to a second wicket for some time as the alarm bells start ringing.
22nd over: South Africa 124-1 (Markram 78, Bavuma 11) Mitch Marsh keeps ringing the changes as Australia get increasingly desperate for a breakthrough. Ben Dwarshuis comes back for his second spell after going for 16 runs from his first three overs. South Africa keep picking up the singles with another five off Dwarshuis.
21st over: South Africa 119-1 (Markram 75, Bavuma 9) Adam Zampa comes back into the attack as Australia need to not only restrict the run rate but perhaps even find a couple of wickets. Both batters work their way around the crease to work with the spin and ease to five singles.
20th over: South Africa 114-1 (Markram 72, Bavuma 7) Temba Bavuma is yet to really find his timing but puts any concerns aside as he pulls Nathan Ellis over midwicket for his first boundary. The South Africa batters pick out the gaps from there for another five singles.
19th over: South Africa 106-1 (Markram 70, Bavuma 1) Markram hammers Head with a cover drive that gets airborne but is never in any danger as it bounces toward the boundary. The opener finds another four when guiding the ball to third man and is now putting together a fine knock without his usual big-hitting fanfare.
18th over: South Africa 95-1 (Markram 60, Bavuma 1) Nathan Ellis takes over from Adam Zampa who has bowled three overs for 15 runs while troubling the South Africa openers. Bavuma is keen to get off the mark after a punch to mid-on.
17th over: South Africa 92-1 (Markram 58, Bavuma 0) South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma joins Aiden Markram at the crease with their side perhaps getting ready for take off. But the Australia spinners are proving hard to get away and Bavuma will likely to take to get his eye in while Markram keeps the score ticking over.
WICKET! Rickelton c Labuschagne b Head 33 (South Africa 92-1)
Australia finally get a breakthrough as Ryan Rickelton steps down the track but can only loft his drive to Marnus Labuschagne at mid-off. The opener had not looked comfortable against the spinners but he has helped set up South Africa for some fireworks through the next two-thirds of the innings.
16th over: South Africa 85-0 (Markram 51, Rickelton 33) Aiden Markram passes 50 for the 16th time in 78 ODIs with a lofted drive over cover. Labuschagne saves the boundary with a dive near the rope but the three runs are enough for the opener’s half-century from 54 balls with six fours.
15th over: South Africa 80-0 (Markram 47, Rickelton 32) Rickelton gets another life! A thick outside edge is too sharp for Josh Inglis behind the stumps as the nick takes the ball away from the keeper’s gloves.
14th over: South Africa 76-0 (Markram 45, Rickelton 30) Australia loses a review after Zampa has Rickelton swinging wildly and hits him on the pads. That might have been out by the ball pitched just outside leg stump to the left-hander, who looks in all sorts against the Australian spinners.
13th over: South Africa 71-0 (Markram 42, Rickelton 28) Head drops one right on the spot as the ball drifts into, and then spins away from, Rickelton. The left-hander misses the attempted sweep and the finger goes up, but the review shows the ball bounced narrowly over middle stump. Rickelton looks unsure how to handle Head until deciding the best form of defence is to attack. The South African opener dances down the deck and lofts the ball back over Head and only narrowly beyond deep mid-on.
12th over: South Africa 67-0 (Markram 41, Rickelton 25) It’s spin from both ends as Adam Zampa is also called into the attack. The Australia leg-spinner doesn’t even bother to hide his displeasure at a misfield from Mitch Marsh at point costs him two runs. The South Africans are left working the gaps for a few singles.
11th over: South Africa 62-0 (Markram 37, Rickelton 24) With the powerplay complete Mitch Marsh immediately turns to spin as Travis Head takes the ball and begins around the wicket. Markram sits back and cuts hard to beat the fielder at deep point in an otherwise tidy over.
10th over: South Africa 56-0 (Markram 32, Rickelton 23) Nathan Ellis turns the screws with a tighter over and almost sends Rickelton on his way with a slower ball after the opener gets a thick inside edge on a square drive but somehow misses his stumps. Both sides might be happy with the powerplay as Australia restrict South Africa to only eight boundaries but the visitors have their full set of wickets in hand.
9th over: South Africa 54-0 (Markram 31, Rickelton 22) Aaron Hardie takes over from Josh Hazlewood who could hardly have been more impressive while going wicketless. Markram sends a loosener past the fielder at deep point, before Rickelton adds another boundary with a glance off the hip. South Africa might have taken their time to get the run rate moving, but they will be pleased to have seen off Australia’s new ball bowlers with all 10 wickets still in hand.
8th over: South Africa 41-0 (Markram 25, Rickelton 15) Nathan Ellis comes into the attack as Mitch Marsh makes his first move. Markram greets the Australia quick with a sublime straight drive that races away to the boundary. Rickelton adds another four with a well-time square drive through point. South Africa needed an over like that.
7th over: South Africa 32-0 (Markram 20, Rickelton 11) Alex Carey is at it again as the Test keeper chases down a Rickelton square drive just inside the rope to save a run. Markram looks to get the score moving – finally – with a pull over midwicket but the ball goes as high as it does long and barely moves after it crashes to the turf just short of the boundary.
6th over: South Africa 25-0 (Markram 16, Rickelton 8) Alex Carey is called back into action in the field as Ryan Rickelton takes off for a risky single that very nearly costs the opener his wicket. The ball bounces to Carey’s left and the time it takes him to get around it to pick up with his right and get a throw away is enough to pile on the pressure as the ball sails narrowly wide. Rickelton would have been out with a direct hit.
5th over: South Africa 20-0 (Markram 11, Rickelton 8) Alex Carey scampers across the outfield unusually without the wicketkeeping gloves and pads as Josh Inglis lines up behind the stumps. The Australian chases down a drive from Rickelton inside the rope and drops the ball neatly over the stumps as if to prove he can do it all. The South Africa openers still don’t look comfortable against Hazlewood but will be happy to pick up four runs from the over.
4th over: South Africa 16-0 (Markram 10, Rickelton 5) A tighter line from Ben Dwarshuis has Aiden Markram playing with caution until the final delivery when the South African punishes a wider ball with a square drive to the boundary.
3rd over: South Africa 11-0 (Markram 6, Rickelton 5) Aiden Markram finally opens up as he caresses a square drive across a lightning quick outfield to send the ball crashing into the rope. The South Africa opener repeats the stroke with a touch more power but it bounces straight to point.
2nd over: South Africa 6-0 (Markram 1, Rickelton 5) Ben Dwarshuis takes the new ball in his first ODI on home soil and the South Africa openers find the drop in pace easier to get away. Ryan Rickelton opens the scoring with a thick edge before Aiden Markram gets off the mark with a single to mid-off. The first contender for shot of the day goes to Rickelton as he uses the swing away from him to hammer a cover drive to the rope.
1st over: South Africa 0-0 (Markram 0, Rickelton 0) Josh Hazlewood does what he does best and immediately locks into a perfect line and length against Aiden Markram. The Australian metronome begins with a top-quality first over. That’s a maiden.
Josh Hazlewood is at the top of his mark with Aiden Markram on strike. Here we go …
The wind is blowing hard across Cazalys Stadium which should please Australia’s quicks including Josh Hazlewood, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis who each impressed in the T20 series.
Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton are also heading to the crease with the former especially in need of runs after scoring only 31 in three knocks while leading South Africa in the T20 series.
Australia will play this ODI in the shadow of former captain and coach Bob Simpson who was critical to turning the side’s fortunes around alongside Allan Border after a lean patch through the 1980s.
Simpson died aged 89 after also playing 62 Tests for Australia over more than two decades. Mike Selvey has written in depth about one of the greats of Australian cricket.
South Africa XI
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
Dewald Brevis is named for his ODI debut with Prenelan Subrayen also playing his first 50-over international as South Africa go with two spinners.
Australia XI
Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Marnus Labuschagne returns to the lineup hoping that white-ball runs might press his claims for a place in the Ashes squad, while Alex Carey comes in as a specialist batter.
Australia win the toss and elect to field
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma calls “heads” but tails comes up. Mitch Marsh has a huge call to make but for the 21st time as Australia captain he says, “just thought I’d change it up and say that we’ll have a bowl first”.
The Australia captain explains that the decision is based on more than just habit. “The wicket looks a touch drier than the other night but we saw that the dew plays a part so that’s the main reason why,” Marsh adds.
Bavuma admits that he would have liked to bat first, but is happier to announce that Dewald Brevis will make his ODI debut. “He’s the star of the show at the moment, it would be nice if he could carry on with his heroics in the ODI format,” the Proteas skipper says.
Dewald Brevis is expected to make his ODI debut for South Africa today – after smashing 125 not out and 53 in the last couple of T20s against Australia. The Proteas could do with Brevis’s power hitting after their bowling stocks suffered a huge blow when Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the ODI series.
🚨Squad Update 🚨
Proteas Men’s fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia due to inflammation of his right ankle.
The 30-year-old underwent a scan on Monday, which confirmed the extent of the injury. He… pic.twitter.com/8SYrKWMgHz
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 19, 2025
The toss will be coming up in about five minutes – but it seems we can easily predict which way it will go if Mitch Marsh gets to decide whether Australia will bat or bowl first.
Australia’s middle-order maverick Tim David and South Africa’s rising star Dewald Brevis lit up the T20s in Darwin, but it was left to a more familiar name in Glenn Maxwell to steer the hosts home with one ball to spare in the decider held in Cairns.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first one-day international between Australia and South Africa at Cazalys Stadium. The focus turns to three matches in the 50-over format after a gripping T20 series over the past couple of weeks that included some powerful hitting in Darwin then went into a decider held in Cairns.
Glenn Maxwell was the hero with the bat as Australia clinched a T20 series victory last Saturday night, though the white-ball great will be missing from this group of games after retiring from ODIs with the next World Cup still two years away.
There are a number of other changes to each squad as the teams give opportunities to fresh talent and aim to find the right mix and formula for the longer term. Australia’s designated ODI captain Pat Cummins is unavailable with Mitch Marsh again set to take the reins, while Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa just as he did when the sides met in the World Test Championship final a couple of months ago.
The teams should be more familiar with the conditions in Cairns after playing at the same venue three days ago, while they will head to Mackay for the remaining two games in the ODI series to be played on Friday and Sunday. The forecast is for sunny skies all afternoon and a high of 25C before it barely cools for the second stanza.
First ball will be at 2.30pm local time / AEST. The toss and team news will be coming up shortly. Meanwhile, let us know your thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!