Key events
5th over: South Africa 34-1 (Bavuma 15, de Zorzi 2) Another left-hander replaces Rickelton, this is Tony de Zorzi, who was opening in the Test team not long ago but has done well in the middle in ODIs. Three runs and a wicket, top over from Bartlett.
WICKET! Rickelton c Connolly b Bartlett 11, SA 31-2
There’s the other opener gone. Bartlett gets the ball to move in subtly at the left-hander, who plays a flick off his pads with timing but not great power, and straight at the young Australian who is back in the side tonight.
4th over: South Africa 31-1 (Rickelton 11, Bavuma 14) Bavuma lays in! That’s what they need: an early boundary backed up with the hunt for more. A mix of luck and aggression against Abbott. Three catchers behind the bat, so Bavuma flings the bat to get four through point, again to under-edge past the keeper, then over mid off for his third boundary despite a desperate chase and slide from Ellis. Add in two runs through leg and that’s a 14-run over.
3rd over: South Africa 17-1 (Rickelton 11, Bavuma 0) Rickelton wants to keep going after it. First ball of the Bartlett over, smacked through the covers for four. Lovely shot. But he can’t turn that early start into a big over. Barlett keeps getting swing, beats the outside edge at one stage, has Rickelton find a fielder at others, and there are four dots before a brace behind square to end the over. Bavuma still hasn’t faced.
WICKET! Markram c Green b Abbott 2, SA 11-1
2nd over: South Africa 11-1 (Rickelton 5) Oh dear. There’s their biggest player, gone early. Markram wants to get moving, and a team chasing 400 does need plenty from a bowler like Sean Abbott. Four byes early, a couple of singles. Last ball of the over, Markram plays a massive drive, but only nicks it into the cordon.
1st over: South Africa 5-1 (Markram 1, Rickelton 4) President Bartlett opening the bowling, and Rickelton gets going quickly with a clip to the boundary. Not bad, not bad.
Well, goodness me. Thankfully Jim survived that innings. And what a turnaround. After twice being bowled out for under 200 while chasing, the Australians have batted first and made 400 and plenty. The 2006 comparisons are attractive, of course, though what isn’t ringing in my ears is the batting order: there’s no Graeme Smith, no Herschelle Gibbs, no ABDV or Jacques Kallis in this current side. But Markram is a big name already, Bavuma has influenced some special matches, and Stubbs and Brevis might become those names in time. Let’s see.
James Wallace
I’m off for a lie down and to ice my knuckles after that Australian blitzkrieg. Well batted… everyone! Geoff Lemon will be along shortly to call South Africa’s response with Jo’burg 2006 ringing in his ears no doubt. Bye!
Australia post 431-2!
Phew. What an innings from Australia. Centuries from Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh in an opening partnership of 250 set the foundation and Cameron Green finished it with 118 not out from 55 balls. The second fastest ODI century for an Australian. Alex Carey makes an unbeaten 50 from 37 and South Africa are on the floor.
Travis Head speaks:
I probably haven’t got the runs in this series that I would have liked. Nice to get in with Mitch (Marsh). Batting in the day time on a nice wicket, we knew there were runs out there to be had. Nice to contribute. It’s been a bit of a lean series so far.”
and Cameron Green has his say too:
I was sitting down waiting for Marn (Labuschagne) to go in next the whole time. I got the call up probably the ball before Heady (Travis Head) got out. I wasn’t quite ready! A few twos early got me going. The top openers batted beautifully which meant me and Kezza (Carey) could bat with a lot of freedom. It came off today.”
49th over: Australia 423-2 (Green 118, Carey 43) The chaos continues! 16 runs off the penultimate over from Mulder as Green launches a four and a SIX back past him. This has been a brutal innings. One over of pain left to go for South Africa.
48th over: Australia 407-2 (Green 103, Carey 42) Take a bow Cameron Green! His first ODI hundred is a truly rapid and remarkable one – coming in just 47 balls! Its the second fastest by an Australian in terms of balls faced, only Glenn Maxwell has a faster one (off 40 balls).
47th over: Australia 400-2 (Green 97, Carey 41) Green launches Mulder for SIX! Brevis takes a juggling catch behind the boundary rope that would have previously stood but under the new ruling it doesn’t any longer. SIX MORE! Phenomenal hitting from Cam Green. He takes a single to go within three runs of a remarkable century and Australia rack up 400.
46th over: Australia 383-2 (Green 85, Carey 38) Everyone takes a breath after the madness of the previous over. Bosch goes for two singles but is then flicked for four off his final delivery by Carey.
45th over: Australia 377-2 (Green 83, Carey 34) Three sixes in a row by Green! Remarkable hitting, long levers and clean striking. Muthusamy is at a loss. Green is now just 17 shy of what would be a frankly ridiculous century.
44th over: Australia 353-2 (Green 65, Carey 30) Oh no! Carey is dropped by Maphaka at deep square!
43rd over: Australia 348-2 (Green 62, Carey 28) Cameron Green is going loco! Twenty runs plundered off Maphaka as Green brings up his fifty off just 28 balls with a huge six over midwicket!
42nd over: Australia 328-2 (Green 43, Carey 27) The runs have come even quicker for Australia since Head and Marsh departed. Green glances fine for four and twelve runs are taken off Corbin Bosch with ease.
41st over: Australia 316-2 (Green 38, Carey 22) Maphaka back into the attack and Green swats him away over cover for four as eleven runs come from the over.
40th over: Australia 305-2 (Green 30, Carey 20) The Proteas continue to chase leather, Green pings Corbin Bosch to the cover fence. That’s 300 up for the Aussies and 10 overs to give it some humpty.
39th over: Australia 296-2 (Green 22, Carey 19) Shot! Carey punches down the ground for four and Green matches him with a smoked drive. A big last 10 overs coming up.
38th over: Australia 284-2 (Green 17, Carey 12) Mulder slips in a beamer by accident and apologises to Carey. The batter is not fusseed though as a fine lap for four and a carve past point bring two boundaries. Carey is a dangerous player in these situations, SOuth Africa need to switch on or risk staring down the barrel of a 400 plus score.
37th over: Australia 269-2 (Green 14, Carey 1) Just who you want to see arrive in the middle if you are South Africa. Not. Alex Carey strides out to meet Green.
WICKET! Mitchell Marsh c †Rickelton b Muthusamy 100 (Australia 267-2)
100 and out! Marsh top edges and is caught on the dive by the keeper.
Mitch Marsh notches up century
36th over: Australia 264-1 (Marsh 100, Green 10) Mulder returns. Green clips for three and… Marsh scampers two down to long on to notch up a fantastic hundred! Its been patient and brutal, Marsh salutes the crowd and the team balcony. That’s the Bison’s fourth ODI ton.
35th over: Australia 256-1 (Marsh 96, Green 6) Cameron Green comes out at number three. Where’s Marnus?
Green drives for four off Maharaj to open his account. Maharaj ends with 1-57 from his 10. It’s been hard yakka.
WICKET! Travis Head c Brevis b Maharaj 142 (Australia 250-1)
All good things … Head is caught in the deep to end a superb innings and even better opening stand. The ground rises to him as he walks off. Have we actually seen a wicket?! I mushht be dreaming.
34th over: Australia 250-0 (Head 142, Marsh 96) Head carries on in merry fashion, four down the ground and SIX swiped over midwicket. Such clear striking. Head slog sweeps out of the ground! That was a monster! the 250 partnership comes up, nineteen off the over.
33rd over: Australia 231-0 (Head 123, Marsh 96) No ton off this one for Marsh as Maharaj rattles through his ninth.
32nd over: Australia 229-0 (Head 122, Marsh 95) Four singles picked off Markram… Marsh one big hit away.
31st over: Australia 225-0 (Head 120, Marsh 93) Head marches into the nineties with a square drive off Maharaj and Head follows up with a sweetly timed clip over midwicket. Penny for Marnus’ thoughts… maybe he won’t even get a bat?!
30th over: Australia 215-0 (Head 115, Marsh 88) This piece from Daniel Gallan feels apt for today’s match. *Googles synonyms for crunched*
29th over: Australia 205-0 (Head 109, Marsh 84) Maharaj returns. Mitch Marsh has seemingly broken his bat and calls for a new blade. He doesn’t look too crestfallen.
Australia bring up 200-run opening stand
28th over: Australia 201-0 (Head 107, Marsh 82) Head celebrated his ton by placing his helmet on the end of his bat handle and hoisting it skyward. He’s now batting in his cap against Markram, lovely to see. Four off the over, can Marsh make his hundred too. South Africa look flat as a Bolivian pancake.
Travis Head salutes seventh ODI century
27th over: Australia 197-0 (Head 105, Marsh 81) Head goes to 99 with a clip for two off Muthusamy … and there it is! Travis Head goes to his seventh ODI hundred. Form is temporary … He celebrates in muted fashion but looks mightily pleased. A cut for four brings him another boundary. He might go through the gears now. Gulp.
26th over: Australia 188-0 (Head 97, Marsh 79) Markram returns for his second spell, four runs off it. Travis Head one shot away from three figures…
25th over: Australia 184-0 (Head 96, Marsh 77) A slight breather for South Africa with just three off Muthusamy. Australia half way through and a monster total on the cards.