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Matthew Breetzke scored 88 and Lungi Ngidi took five wickets as South Africa beat Australia by 84 runs in Mackay, clinching the ODI series with one match left.
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Matthew Breetzke scored a remarkable 88, and fast bowler Lungi Ngidi took five wickets as South Africa defeated Australia by 84 runs to win the second one-day international and the series in Mackay on Friday.
The Proteas had already secured a convincing 98-run victory in the opening game, rendering Sunday’s third and final match inconsequential.
Australia, the reigning world champions, have now lost the last five ODI series against South Africa, with their batsmen once again underperforming.
After captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat, Breetzke hit eight fours and two sixes, continuing his excellent form since debuting this year. He has scored a century and three half-centuries in his first four ODIs.
Tristan Stubbs was also impressive, contributing 74 before South Africa was dismissed in the final over for 277, with Adam Zampa taking 3-63 and Cameron Green making four catches.
Josh Inglis scored 87 in Australia’s reply, but no other batsman stepped up, and they were all out for 193 in the 38th over, with Ngidi finishing with 5-42.
“It’s a great feeling, of course, never an easy feat coming to Australia and wrapping up the series in two games,” said Markram. “Really good from the boys.”
South Africa put Australia under pressure early on, despite missing off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who was cited for a suspect action in the first game, and injured pace bowler Kagiso Rabada.
Travis Head lasted only nine balls before being caught at mid-wicket off Nandre Burger, while the out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne managed just one run.
Captain Mitchell Marsh hit four boundaries in a quick 18 runs but was soon dismissed, leaving Green and Inglis to rebuild. They added 67 runs before Green was out for 35, caught and bowled by spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
Alex Carey (13) and Aaron Hardie (10) didn’t last long, but Inglis continued to fight until Ngidi induced an edge, and he was caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton, ending Australia’s hopes.
“Disappointing,” said Marsh. “I thought as a collective we pegged them back beautifully with the ball, but as a batting unit, we just didn’t get the job done tonight.”
Earlier, South Africa had a cautious start as Xavier Bartlett dismissed both openers within the first six overs. He had Markram caught by Head at mid-wicket without scoring, and Rickelton (eight) was tempted to edge a seaming ball, with wicketkeeper Inglis taking a fine diving catch.
Breetzke alleviated the pressure when Hardie came on, hitting him for two sixes and a four in one over to reach 56-2 after the 10-over powerplay. He then formed a 67-run stand with Tony de Zorzi (38) and shared another 89-run partnership with Stubbs before skying Nathan Ellis to Carey in the deep.
Stubbs continued to play well as wickets fell around him, hitting Zampa down the ground before Green took a catch, with a late surge from the tail-end.
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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