Matthew Breetzke scored a superb 112 to guide South Africa to a 67-run victory over Australia in the first one-day international in Durban on Thursday, but the tourists will rue the loss of cheap wickets as they faltered in their chase.
South Africa posted 297 for eight in their 50 overs and Australia were well on course after a fast start, until poor shot selection caused their charge to collapse and they finished on 230 all out, losing their last nine wickets for 101 runs.
Australia will welcome the likely return of captain Pat
Cummins for the second match in the three-game series in
Johannesburg on Sunday, but if this series is a fact-finding
mission ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa,
Namibia and Zimbabwe, there will be much food for thought.
“I’m pretty disappointed,” Australia captain Mitch Marsh
said. “South Africa outplayed us. It was a good game of cricket
but we fell well short.
“We had our opportunities, I am probably going to sound
like a broken record speaking about having partnerships in our
batting, but we weren’t able to form many tonight.”
Australia won the toss and decided to bowl, strangling the
South African run-rate early on.
But when Breetzke came in at number four, he played
conventional cricket shots to get his innings started, before he
found a willing partner in big-hitting Marco Jansen.
Breetzke, who averages over 60 with the bat in his 15 ODIs,
scored his 112 from 106 deliveries and Jansen equalled his
career best with 75 in 59 deliveries.
Australia started their innings in brilliant fashion as
Marsh blasted 60 from 36 balls and put on 90 in 9.2 overs for
the first wicket with Travis Head (36 from 37 balls).
But too many batters threw their wickets away at the top of
the order.
Jansen’s sensational diving one-handed catch in the outfield
to dismiss Matt Renshaw (44) left Australia on 215-7, a position
they never recovered from.
South African spinners Keshav Maharaj (4-20 in 9.2 overs)
and Bjorn Fortuin (2-34 in 8) showed excellent control.
“Very satisfied, all round it was a good fight from the
batters and bowlers,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said.
“Looking at how both innings started, we were under
pressure in the first 10 overs in each, but we managed to get a
very competitive score on that wicket.”
Source: Khaleej Times