South Africans complete unlikely comeback as Australian collapse hands Proteas series win

Marco Jansen’s all-round masterclass has steered South Africa towards a 3-2 series triumph over Australia, with the hosts securing a comprehensive 122-run victory in the series finale at Wanderers on Sunday.

Aiden Markram (93 from 87 balls) and David Miller (63 from 65 balls) combined for a century stand before late cameos from Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo (38 not out) guided the Proteas towards 9-315 from their 50 overs in Johannesburg.

In response, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh smacked a half-century before the tourists lost 8-69 in a dramatic collapse, ultimately bowled out for 193 in 34.1 overs with Jansen taking a career-best 5-39.

It marks the first time that Australia has lost a bilateral ODI series after winning the opening two matches.

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Marsh won the toss and elected to field first, with rival captain Temba Bavuma departing in the second over for a second-ball duck. The Proteas skipper winced in pain after Sean Abbott’s delivery thudded into Bavuma’s ribcage, unaware that opening partner Quinton de Kock was scampering through for a single — Marnus Labuschagne’s ran him out at the non-striker’s end with a direct hit.

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De Kock, playing his final ODI on home soil, fell victim to Nathan Ellis in the 12th over, flashing outside off stump and edging towards Cameron Green at second slip for 27 (39). The South African wicketkeeper received a standing ovation as he exited the field.

Abbott, who briefly left the field with a finger complaint, removed Rassie van der Dussen in the first over of his second spell, with the Proteas No. 3 slapping a cover drive directly towards Labuschagne for 30 (48).

The dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, who embarrassed Australia’s bowlers during a brutal assault on Friday, couldn’t repeat his Centurion heroics, bowled by Adam Zampa for 6 (13). The right-hander misjudged a full delivery that knocked over his off stump.

Markram and Miller picked up the tempo after the 25th over, combining for a 109-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Tim David broke the stand with his first delivery in ODIs, becoming the first Australian male to achieve the rare feat, with Markram falling agonisingly short of a coveted century.

However, David went from hero to zero after spilling a regulation catch at long-on, denying Zampa a wicket and handing Jansen an extra life on 18. The dropped chance proved costly, with Jansen smacking 47 (23) in a blistering cameo, eventually falling victim to Green in the 47th over.

Zampa found himself on a hat-trick after toppling Gerald Coetzee and Keshav Maharaj in back-to-back deliveries at the other end, but Lungi Ngidi survived the following ball.

Phehlukwayo plundered three sixes and a boundary in the final over, delivered by Neser, to steer South Africa’s total beyond 300, aided by some sloppy fielding at the death.

Veteran opener David Warner departed in the fourth over of the run chase for 10 (6) after slashing Jansen’s second delivery of the day towards Markram, who held onto a low catch at point.

Four deliveries later, Josh Inglis chopped back onto his stumps for a duck, with Jansen completing a double wicket maiden.

Marsh and Labuschagne steadied the ship, combining for a 90-run partnership for the third wicket to put the contest back in the balance. Jansen found the Australian skipper’s leading edge in the tenth over, but the ball somehow landed safely after some confusion in the outfield.

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Marsh brought up his 16th ODI half-century with a pull shot against Gerald Coetzee that sailed over mid-wicket for six, reaching the minor milestone in just 49 deliveries. However, Jansen returned to the attack in the 20th over and immediately broke the stand, with Marsh guiding a bouncer towards Lungi Ngidi at deep third man for 71 (56).

Jansen, later named player of the match, secured his maiden ODI five-wicket haul by bouncing out Labuschagne and Alex Carey in the same over — the Queenslander top-edged a pull shot towards deep fine leg for 44 (63) before Carey gloved a bumper behind to de Kock, who held onto a superb diving catch.

Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled David for 1 and deceived Green for 18 before cleaning up the tail, finishing with 4-33 from 9.1 overs.

Australia and South Africa will face off again during next month’s World Cup in Lucknow on Thursday, October 12.