Cooper Connolly bags a fiver as Australia demolish Proteas by record-breaking 276 runs

The Proteas slumped to a record-breaking 276-run defeat to Australia in the third and final ODI against Australia in Mackay on Sunday.

The victory was a mere consolation for the hosts though after the Proteas had already sealed the series last Friday. 

After being bowled out cheaply in the first two matches, the Aussies’ powerful batting unit finally struck form with Travis Head (142 off 103 balls, 17x4, 5x6), Mitchell Marsh (100 off 106 balls (6x4, 5x6) and Cameron Green (118* off 55 balls) all striking magnificent centuries. 

The massive 431/2 proved far too much for the visitors with the Proteas’ slumping to 155 all out. 

Dewald Brevis was the only Proteas’ batter to make any form of an impression with another boundary-laden 49 (28 balls, 2x4, 5x6), while Tony de Zorzi also contributed 33 (30 balls, 6x4).

Young Australian allrounder Cooper Connolly (5/20) showed his potential with the left-arm spinner claiming a maiden ODI five-wicket haul.

But the real damage was done upfront by the new-ball pair of Xavier Bartlett (2/45) and the recalled Sean Abbott (2/27).

The latter had Aiden Markram caught at slip in his first over, while Bartlett removed fellow opener Ryan Rickelton shortly afterwards. 

Captain Temba Bavuma (19) struck a couple of crisp boundaries upon his return to the team but could not build on a promising start by chopping Bartlett on his stumps.

The Proteas never recovered from the early setbacks as they failed to build the necessary partnerships to pose a formidable run chase. 

SCORECARD 

Australia: 431/2 (Head 142, Green 118*, Marsh 100, Carey 50*, Maharaj 1/57)

South Africa: 155 all out Brevis 49, De Zorzi 33, Connolly 5/22, Abbott 2/27 Barlett 2/47

Australia won by 276 runs, South Africa win the series 2-1