Match report
That’ll do from us. The appetiser is being cleared from the table. Next is the main course, a three-match Test series and all the sandpapergate chat you can eat!
We’ll be here to bring you all the action. But for now – here is the full report from Australia’s win against South Africa in the third ODI …
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Temba Bavuma, who didn’t play today, will have the last word:
It didn’t go to plan today. We gave guys some opportunity and others a rest before the Test series. Good to see Rickelton get some runs and Coetzee take wickets. We’ll take the confidence we can get from the series.
The luxury we had was coming in to this 2-0 up. We had the luxury of using this game to give other guys an opportunity. The guys who came in, it’s not a case of them just filling gaps. With the World Cup looming it was a chance to put up their hands. There’s never a dead rubber.
We’ve made strides [the ODI team]. If you look at the batting, the bowling, the guys who can come in. A guy like [Kagiso Rabada] will come in and strengthen the team. We’re gaining momentum.
Mitch Marsh is up next:
We’re really pleased, though would have been nice to get a full game. A disappointing series but nice to end on a win.
Looking forward to the World Cup in 12 months, we gave some experience to a lot of guys. There was great learnings.
It’s always a great challenge playing South Africa.
I feel good [with bat in hand]. It would have been nice to get some big scores, but always nice to contribute.
Now for the player of the series, Keshav Maharaj who turned the first two matches in SA’s favour:
Full credit must go to my teammates. I’ve just been working very hard.
The lengths we bowl in SA, it is a little consistent with the bounce. Doing the analysis work on the batters, our plans went accordingly.
Durban went as we expected. But the turn and bounce I got at the Wanderers was encouraging. It’s so nice to have a front line spinner bowling at the other end [he’s talking about Bjorn Fortuin].
OK, time for some post-match stuff.
Something called the Radar Tyre Super Six is awarded to Mitch Marsh for hitting the biggest six.
Fair enough.
Here’s the player of the match, Alex Carey:
The guys got off to a good start as they have all series except we weren’t able to take advantage of it before. Full credit to South Africa across the series.
I know my role in the team, catching balls, hitting balls, so when [Josh Inglis] went down I was ready.
The guys are excited [for the Test series]. We’ve got a short turnaround and a tour match. We know everyone is keen to watch it, keen to play it. That all starts tomorrow.
Let’s recap.
Australia exploded out of the blocks with the bat, as they have all through this series. Except this time they batted first.
Then a few handy scores in the middle order around Alex Carey’s 74 propelled them to 322-9.
South Africa needed a record chase on this ground to claim a 3-0 series sweep but when they lost Quinton de Kock early, and regular wickets thereafter, it always looked like a tough ask.
Adam Zampa bowled well for the first time this series and Xavier Bartlett was magnificent with the new ball.
Ryan Rickelton scored an unbeaten 71 but he didn’t have much help before the rain came down.
Game abandoned - Australia win by 45 on DLS
That’s that then. The rain hasn’t let up and sanity has prevailed as the umpires have called an end to things.
Not that a stunning South African fightback was on. Australia bossed this from the jump and deserve this victory.
South Africa take the series, though, 2-1.
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Still raining.
Just call it!
Word is the rain is getting heavier.
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Rain delay
The covers are on and I have a hunch they’ll stay on.
If they do, Australia will win this comfortably as the par DLS score after 28 overs is 190.
28th over: South Africa 145-4 (Rickelton 71, Bosch 13) Connolly continues and starts by giving away a single down the ground to Rickelton. They’ll want to keep Bosch on strike, which they do for a couple of balls before he too has to settle for just a single. Bosch is back on strike soon after and manages to eke out a couple after a misfield at midwicket. But that required rate has now nudged above eight though the last five overs have gone for just 19.
The umpires are having a conversation.
OH NO! They’re calling for the ground staff to bring the covers on. Will have a rain delay.
27th over: South Africa 140-4 (Rickelton 69, Bosch 10) Rickelton is trying to take on Cummins but he can’t lay a glove (or a bat) on him. A couple of wild swipes – first towards the leg side then to the off – to back of a length deliveries find nothing but air. He eventually settles for a plinked single down the ground off the fifth over. Another stingy set from Australia as the required rate gets closer to eight.
26th over: South Africa 139-4 (Rickelton 68, Bosch 10) Connolly replaces Zampa and this could be a chance for South Africa to land some blows. Instead they stay patient. Just four singles off that over. Marsh will be delighted.
25th over: South Africa 135-4 (Rickelton 66, Bosch 8) Cummins is digging it in short to Bosch who rides the bounce well, but doesn’t look capable of hitting those lifters from an awkward length to the boundary. When Cummins pushes it up to Rickelton from round the wicket he hits his pad, but the angle was always taking it past leg stump. Rickelton can’t get him away. That’s a great over from Cummins who stuck with that Test length. Just the one single to Bosch across the set.
24th over: South Africa 134-4 (Rickelton 66, Bosch 7) Zampa drags down – he’s not bowled too many of those hit-me balls this innings – and Bosch swats a pull shot behind square for four. But the required rate is steadily climbing and this over is only worth seven.
23rd over: South Africa 127-4 (Rickelton 65, Bosch 1) Cummins returns and gets one to lift off a length and whack Bosch – suffering from vertigo at number 6 – on the elbow. Just two runs from that over. This match has come down to whether or not Rickelton can produce a knock for the ages. If he can’t, the Aussies should romp this.
WICKET! Stubbs lbw Zampa 14 (South Africa 125-4)
Zampa beats him with a wrong un! He’d coughed up four soft runs by pushing a ball onto Stubbs’ legs, but this googly isn’t picked and starts on middle and off. Stubbs, after pressing forward and playing outside of the line, reviews after being talked into it by Rickelton. No dice. Three reds and he has to go as replays show that was taking out the top of leg stump. Australia are into the all-rounders and can sniff a victory.
22nd over: South Africa 125-4 (Rickelton 64)
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21st over: South Africa 117-3 (Rickelton 64, Stubbs 8) Both batters are treating Starc with respect, dropping and running for singles and hitting the boundary riders. Just four singles off that over. South Africa have done well through this series in building partnerships. This feels like a brief pause before they press the accelerator. Perhaps also a consequence of de Zorzi not batting which means SA are effectively four down.
20th over: South Africa 113-3 (Rickelton 62, Stubbs 6) Zampa has copped a lot of flak – and runs – this series but he’s full of confidence here with a slip in place for Stubbs. He’s much tidier than he was in Durban and Joburg and concedes a miserly three singles off this set. The required rate is now up to seven while the Saffas are going at less than six.
19th over: South Africa 110-3 (Rickelton 61, Stubbs 4) After a deluge of spin it’s a return to pace with Starc back in the attack. Rickelton drives past cover but can’t reach the boundary so has to settle for three. Stubbs, the new man, is happy to rotate the strike with a couple of singles as well as checked-pull worth two.
WICKET! Breetzke st Carey b Zampa 25 (South Africa 102-3)
Zampa’s broken through! He thought he had the wicket of Rickelton when what looked like a stone-dead lbw shout from a skidder was overturned on review. But a few balls later, Zampa floated it up a touch to Breetzke and dragged him forward before beating him with a leg-spinner. Carey was lightning quick behind the stumps and whipped off the bails in a flash. The third umpire was consulted but Breetzke has to go as his back foot was on the line.
18th over: South Africa 102-3 (Rickelton 57)
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17th over: South Africa 99-2 (Rickelton 56, Breetzke 23) The rain seems to be intensifying, which is perhaps why Bartlett misfielded at backward point to give away two runs to a Rickelton cut. Then there’s another misfield, – was that Starc? – in the deep on the off-side. Six off that Peake over though the required run-rate is at 6.78.
16th over: South Africa 93-2 (Rickelton 51, Breetzke 21) Zampa and the Aussies burn a review after Rickelton is hit on the pad. But only after taking a pretty thick and obvious inside edge. Still, it’s a decent over for the tourists as this one costs just five singles. One of them to Rickelton brought up his half century. Five fours and two sixes suggest some fireworks, but this was one of those you-look-up-and-he’s-on-fifty sort of knocks.
15th over: South Africa 89-2 (Rickelton 49, Breetzke 20) Four consecutive overs of spin. Four different bowlers. This time it’s Peake, who batted well, sending down some off-breaks. But as he gets going the camera cuts to some sideways rain that appears to be creeping up on the ground. Might be one of those nights. This over goes for just five singles.
A reminder that Cam Green, who was picked as an all-rounder tonight, won’t be bowling. That explains the part-timers getting a run.
14th over: South Africa 84-2 (Rickelton 46, Breetzke 18) Zampa into the attack and he starts with a pie down the leg side. Rickelton crunches it with a swishing blade but hits it straight to Renshaw at square leg. The fielder does well to get something on it to keep the certain boundary to just two, but he comes up holding his hand. I’m not surprised. That would have broken one of my fingers. After three singles, Breetzke does find the boundary with a gorgeous swishing cover drive. The partnership is up to 54 from 49 balls.
13th over: South Africa 75-2 (Rickelton 42, Breetzke 13) Marsh has sensed an opportunity to get through some quick overs with his part-timers so he chucks the ball to Renshaw. His third ball is a half-tracker that Rickelton dismisses over square leg for six. But there are just two singles elsewhere so it’s not a momentum swinging over for South Africa.
12th over: South Africa 67-2 (Rickelton 35, Breetzke 12) Spin now a Connolly replaces Bartlett. He’s flat through the air to start as SA milk three singles. Then he gives one a bit of flight and beats Breetzke in the air, getting it to grip past his outside edge. They ask politely if there was a stumping. There wasn’t. Breetzke keeps the strike with a drive down the ground to the man in the deep. SA building, but that required rate is climbing close to 7.
11th over: South Africa 63-2 (Rickelton 33, Breetzke 10) Cummins hasn’t quite found his radar. From over the wicket to the left-handed Rickelton he’s down the leg side and sees the ball fly away fine to the rope, albeit off the batter’s thigh-pad. Cummins changes angles but drags it down and that definitely came off the bat with a mighty crack as Rickelton pulls hard in front of square for four.
10th over: South Africa 54-1 (Rickelton 28, Breetzke 10) I could watch Bartlett bowl all day. Just beautiful shape, both off the pitch and through the air. A touch of wobble. It’s an exhibition. He starts the over beating Rickelton’s outside edge with a cracking delivery. A couple of balls later he gets one to seam back in and thwack the lefty’s pad, to a half-hearted appeal for lbw. He’s not perfect, as he strays on Breetzke’s pads and is duly flicked to the square leg boundary, but he closes the set with a very tidy top-of-off dart.
Australia at this stage were 82-1.
9th over: South Africa 49-2 (Rickelton 27, Breetzke 6) Pat Cummins replaces Starc to bowl for the first time on this South African tour. His third ball is a fraction too short and Rickelton swivels on a pull shot and deposits him onto the grass embankment for six either side of singles for both batters.
8th over: South Africa 41-2 (Rickelton 20, Breetzke 5) Bartlett has been so good. He’s working out his lengths and curating them for each batter in real time. When he over-pitches to Rickelton he’s driven down the ground for four. But when he pulls it back a touch he’s beating the lefty’s outside edge with some lovely movement off the surface. Two more are added to the score with a thickish edge off Rickelton’s bat to deep third and a drop and run from Breetzke.
7th over: South Africa 35-2 (Rickelton 15, Breetzke 4) After all the excitement from the last over, Starc chills things out with some top of off stuff. Just the one single for Rickelton off that set.
6th over: South Africa 34-2 (Rickelton 14, Breetzke 4) Some excellent cricket in that over. Bartlett raised the bar with a gem that squared up Markram. Markram then played a sublime shot off the back foot to pierce the covers and find the rope. Then Markram was beaten by a jaffa that trapped him lbw – a tasty full ball that shaped through the air and off the seam, forcing the batter to play down the wrong line. To cap things off, Breetzke caressed his first ball for four in front of point. A lot of cricket in that set. All of it world class.
WICKET! Markram lbw Bartlett 15 (South Africa 30-2)
Beauty! That is so good from Bartlett who two balls ago squared up Markram with an equally tasty peach. Then he was punched off the back foot for four so pushed this one slightly fuller. That allowed it to shape in a little more through the air and by the time it jagged away Markram was already committed to the straight drive. The ball beat the blade and thwacked him on the back leg. After contemplating a review, SA’s skipper trudges off. He’ll know he was beaten by some proper bowling.
5th over: South Africa 26-1 (Markram 11, Rickelton 14) Markram leans back and smokes Starc through cover-point, beating the catcher by a metre to his left. Unlike the last game he keeps this down and finds the gap, though his heart must have been in his mouth for a split second. Starc then offers Rickelton some width and he throws his hands at it, finding the rope at backward point.
Apart from those two boundary balls, the Aussies are keeping it full. It is swinging.
4th over: South Africa 17-1 (Markram 6, Rickelton 10) Just the two singles from that Bartlett over that included an absolute seed! The wobble seam to Rickelton just jagged off a tasty length and beat him all ends up. But no nick so he carries on.
A reminder that SA are batting with 10 as Tony de Zorzi has tweaked his hammy and will likely play no part in this chase.
3rd over: South Africa 15-1 (Markram 5, Rickelton 9) Starc finds Rickelton’s edge but it scoots away for four betweem the grabbers behind the stumps. He pulls his length back a touch for the next ball and unfurls a beauty – angling in and swinging away late, just beating the edge. He then sprays one down the leg side as he searches for the miracle ball. A couple of singles elsewhere keep things ticking early doors.
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2nd over: South Africa 8-1 (Markram 4, Rickelton 4) A wicket and a boundary after four dots from Bartlett’s opener. De Kock was searching for the leg-side pick-up but looked messy as he played and missed twice. When he finally got one on his pads he picked out Starc at fine leg. Rickelton, another lefty, was served up a similar ball but played it with more control as he tickled it fine to the boundary.
WICKET! De Kock c Starc b Bartlett 0 (South Africa 4-1)
Early scalp for Australia! De Kock was searching for a ball he could pick-up over the leg side throughout the over and when he gets one on his pads he picks out Starc at wide fine leg. How many times do we see a batter go out playing their favourite shot? De Kock middled it but Starc barely had to move in the deep and pouched it safely. Bartlett bags the breakthrough in his first over.
1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Markram 4, de Kock 0) Markram survives the first ball and then clips the second for four through midwicket, playing with the swing back into him from Starc. The Aussie shifts his line slightly and is nice and tight for the rest of the over.
Back to the live coverage.
The lights are on in Potch. Aiden Markram, who went out first ball in the second ODI, is out there with bat in hand. He’s got Quinton de Kock for company at the other end.
Looks like it’s Mitch Starc with the new nut.
Thanks Geoff!
Hi everyone. Well, that was fun. Well batted Australia.
Will it be enough?
South Africa must chase 323 to win
It’s a big score, but South Africa would be happy with that. Good batting conditions, high altitude, and it’s generally easier to bat here at night, say the locals. Somewhere around 300 is what they would have been anticipating chasing. As for Australia, they’ve got a score together, but again nobody really clicked after Marsh at the top. Alex Carey eventually became comfortable after a tricky start. Head has been rusty all series. Green looks like he can’t remember how the format works. Peake and Connolly have promise, but not the finished article.
India, meanwhile, are about to successfully chase 400 against West Indies. It would be the second-biggest chase after… you know the one.
I’m out of here, and for this chase I’ll leave you in the company of Dan Gallan.
50th over: Australia 322-9 (Starc 11, Zampa 0) Starc can still hit ‘em when he gets the right ball. Length ball, Starc hits his pull shot so cleanly, flat above midwicket. Gets a single to follow, Zampa runs a bye from the last ball, and the throw at the stumps misses. That’s that!
49th over: Australia 314-9 (Starc 4, Zampa 0) Swish and miss for Zampa to end the over. Williams signals for a review, which he’s not entitled to do given he’s not captain, but Markram shrugs and says ok, copying the signal. There’s enough daylight to fly a Tiger Moth through.
WICKET! Cummins c Breetzke b Williams 11, Australia 314-9
Busy little innings from Cummins. Misfield from Duan Jansen, the sub fielder, out at deep backward square, gives Cummins four runs from a flick off the pads. Then Cummins shuffling leg side before nicking the ball, and it flies just past the keeper. High and past his right shoulder, standing back, but I wonder if de Kock was set for that, expecting it? Some keepers would have got gloves to that. A couple more runs to midwicket, then Cummins holes out to the fielder out there.
48th over: Australia 303-8 (Cummins 1, Starc 4) There’s a boundary first ball for Starc, throwing the bat and edging it away.
WICKET! Green c de Kock b Bosch 23, Australia 299-8
Ooooofffff, Box Wars! Cameron Green wears a deeply uncomfortable delivery right in the box. That is a low full toss, which means it has travelled the shortest possible distance from the bowler’s hand, which means it is travelling at the fastest possible speed, when it demolishes his meat tray. He survives an lbw appeal for the hit, takes a good few minutes to get up, hits another full toss for six, then gloves a bouncer to the wicketkeeper. Dismissed, fittingly, when Bosch meets de Kock.
47th over: Australia 290-7 (Green 15, Cummins 1) The Australians have been treading water in these final overs. Pat Cummins emerges to bat, looking cold and wearing a gold jumper.
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WICKET! Bartlett b Williams 2, Australia 288-7
You don’t always make a 20-ball 50. One of the truths of cricket. Bartlett’s fun night out a few days ago doesn’t repeat, as he loses his off stump in short order. Big swing across the line, and you can play the Brian Statham quote.
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46th over: Australia 286-6 (Green 13, Bartlett 1) One ball remaining as Bartlett comes in, and he keeps strike with a run hit straight.
WICKET! Carey c Williams b Bosch 74, Australia 285-6
Has to go for most options, so Carey tries the uppercut, leaning back. Doesn’t get the elevation or the right angle, and that could dent Australia’s scoring rate. Or not, with Xavier Bartlett coming in next.
45th over: Australia 280-5 (Carey 71, Green 11) Working Fortuin around to the tune of seven runs from the over. Still no hammer drop, with five overs to go…
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44th over: Australia 273-5 (Carey 67, Green 8) Coetzee bowling his ninth, and Green gets his first boundary, clouting a pull shot.
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43rd over: Australia 266-5 (Carey 66, Green 3) Carey is starting to take on the spinnner. Reverse sweep off Fortuin for four. Eight from the over. He still has two overs to go, though – somebody will have to find a way to score from them.
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42nd over: Australia 255-5 (Carey 60, Green 1) The partnership of 66 was useful. Now, in comes Cameron Green at No7. Does he have what it takes to attack the bowling in this late stage without getting warmed up? Three runs from the over.
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WICKET! Renshaw c Markram b Coetzee 30, Australia 257-5
Coetzee returns, and Renshaw plays the kind of shot you don’t really want to play against a bowler of that pace. Flat-batted, a forcing shot really down the ground, but trying to elevate the ball. Too much that can go wrong there. The ball goes straight up in the air, a long way, but the freefall time won’t bother Markram.
41st over: Australia 255-4 (Carey 60, Renshaw 28) Into the last ten. Australia have set the base, now can they polish the metalwork? Renshaw tries another scoop shot and gets just a sliver on it, enough for two runs. If your dad plays that shot, is he a paddle pop?
40th over: Australia 249-4 (Carey 57, Renshaw 25) Mokoena makes Carey hop! Not that short, but the ball jumps at the shoulder of the bat, and pops into the air behind the wicket, but it falls just in front of the keeper. Carey celebrates with a pick-up pull, sending Mokoena over long leg for six. Renshaw likes the look of that, so he celebrates with a lap shot, moving across his stumps to deflect through fine leg for four.
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Half century! Alex Carey 50 from 68 balls
39th over: Australia 234-4 (Carey 50, Renshaw 18) Markram is continuing, around the wicket to the left-handed pair. He has a sweeper out at cover now, that looks like Duan Jansen substitute fielding because Tony de Zorzi is off the field with a hamstring injury. Markram gets wide, drifting down the leg side, as well as being worked around for a couple of singles. Carey does get more expansive to end the over, slashing up through cover, but Jansen is there again to keep the scoring to two. That shot will raise Carey’s milestone.
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38th over: Australia 227-4 (Carey 45, Renshaw 17) There’s Carey at his best. Sees the angle across him from Mokoena, and perfectly times the step forward and cover drive, lofted over the infield. That's such a sweet shot.That's such a sweet shot.
37th over: Australia 220-4 (Carey 39, Renshaw 16) Markram gives himself another bowl. It goes well until he drops a bit short to end the over, and Renshaw pile-drives him through cover.
36th over: Australia 214-4 (Carey 38, Renshaw 11) Mokoena is back. He’s been remarkably frugal today, and by the end of this over has gone for 20 from five overs.
35th over: Australia 211-4 (Carey 37, Renshaw 9) Yep, the Cary Busyness Index™ is rising. Goes over cover for a couple, then darts a furious signle. Renshaw lifts a six over long off. Very simple hit. Left-arm spin over the wicket, fairly full, and Renshaw’s height lets him step right to the pitch of it with just one motion of his front foot, then he drops it over the fence.
34th over: Australia 199-4 (Carey 33, Renshaw 1) Carey has been very circumspect by his standards, but gets moving with a shuffle and a straight hit for four against Bosch.
In the meantime, the Windies made their highest ever score in an ODI today. Aaaaand right now, India are on track to chase it.
33rd over: Australia 194-4 (Carey 28, Renshaw 1) Another very frugal over from Fortuin, two from it.
32nd over: Australia 192-4 (Carey 27, Renshaw 0) That’s a wicket maiden, even though the score has changed. (There was a leg bye, which doesn't go against the bowler.)
WICKET! Peake c Fortuin b Bosch 48, Australia 191-4
First ball after drinks! And it’s an excellent catch. Bosch bowls some pretty ordinary stuff wide of the stumps, Peake drives it square but airborne, and Fortuin is standing pretty close at point, the ball isn’t that wide of him, but he had started diving anyway, so he has to take the catch and then complete the dive. Very well held, away to his left. No half century for Ollie Peake.
31st over: Australia 191-3 (Peake 48, Carey 27) The skipper returns to specialist spin, with Fortuin bowling another very tight over. Figures of 1 for 21 from his five so far.
30th over: Australia 189-3 (Peake 47, Carey 26) The Stubbs experiment is over, with Bosch coming back to bowl some pace. He discomfits Peake with the short ball! Plays it badly, very front on facing the ball by the time he tries to play it. He already starts with quite an open stance, then turns around further as he sees the ball coming down, and has to fend it away while standing square on to the bowler, horrible spot to be in while blocking a bouncer. Bosch makes it easier for him with the next short ball, heading down leg, and while Peake is initially shaping to duck it, he eventually follows it and pulls it through fine leg.
29th over: Australia 181-3 (Peake 40, Carey 25) Peake follows Carey’s lead! Gets a chance at a short ball himself, this one from Markram, and dismisses it over deep midwicket. Six more.
28th over: Australia 172-3 (Peake 32, Carey 24) Almost a catch, Peake driving back at Stubbs and seeing the ball pitch just short of the bowler’s fingers. Then out of nowhere, Carey pulls a six! Not crazy short, thigh height, and it looks like the sort of ball you hit for four, but Carey’s flat strike keeps going. Over the square leg rope.
27th over: Australia 165-3 (Peake 31, Carey 18) Markram is burning through another set, singles, and finally Carey breaks, playing a reverse sweep. Almost four, but de Zorzi tumbles and taps back down at deep third, braids flying everywhere as he loses his hat and rolls over. Every other ball in the over goes for one. That’s a bit more busy from the batters.
26th over: Australia 158-3 (Peake 28, Carey 14) Tristan Stubbs bowling now. Curious. Pace off is the current SA way. Pace off the scoring rate too. Only three.
25th over: Australia 155-3 (Peake 26, Carey 13) Carey almost goes the same way Marsh did. Or the mirror image: off-spinner to the left-hander, as opposed to left orthodox to the right-hander. Gets low to sweep, plays over the top of it, and is hit in front, but on Carey’s review there’s a tiny spike from the bottom edge. Markram has a wicket chalked off, after having about five dropped the other day.
That’s the halfway mark.
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24th over: Australia 153-3 (Peake 25, Carey 12) Shotzee, from Coetzee! Peake whacks him. Coetzee is generating serious wheels in this over, dips short and Peake ices the cut shot, a little up and under in that as well. In revenge, Coetzee almost kills his own wicketkeeper. Short and just creeping down the leg side, then it swings back towards the keeper in the air, and de Kock has to jam a glove in front of his face to avoid getting a new piece of Kookaburra dental jewellery. Another short ball, with Peake getting out of the way, and a fourth, that he cuts again for four! Fun contest.
23rd over: Australia 143-3 (Peake 17, Carey 11) More Markram, and Peake can’t do much with him. Gets a couple of runs from a sweep, but otherwise he’s going nowhere. Cuts a ball into the ground that nearly goes back onto his stumps.
22nd over: Australia 141-3 (Peake 15, Carey 11) Too wide from Coetzee, and Carey doesn’t do the Head throw of the hands, but he places the bat face there, open bladed, and guides the ball to the fence at point. Then plays an awkward pull shot to get off strike. After Marsh opening, Australia have left-handers all the way down to No7.
Coetzee gets lift to Peake, who’s driving on the up and missing, nearly a nick. That comes right after a short ball.
21st over: Australia 134-3 (Peake 14, Carey 6) A close-run thing, literally, as Carey tries to take a single and then has to turn back, diving for his ground after a good pick-up and throw from Stubbs. Markram’s part-time spin is now the weapon of choice, and his over costs only three.
20th over: Australia 131-3 (Peake 13, Carey 4) Coetzee keeps the valve fastened, just the one run for Carey to cover, his favourite spot.
19th over: Australia 130-3 (Peake 13, Carey 3) Extras doing the heavy lifting for the moment, as Mokoena bowls a couple of wides, then a ball that deserves to be, clipping some pad that takes it down to the rope for four byes.
18th over: Australia 121-3 (Peake 12, Carey 2) Australia’s keeper in next. Has a little look. Nudges a couple of singles.
WICKET! Connolly b Coetzee 23, Australia 118-3
Keep it simple. Coetzee returns after being pumped early on, he comes around the wicket to the lefties, and he arrows a yorker in at the base of middle and off. Scrambled seam, perfect length, Connolly can’t jam down.
17th over: Australia 118-2 (Connolly 23, Peake 11) Mokoena isn’t doing anything that stands out, just running in and hitting the deck, hard length mostly, and nothing much happens until the end of the over, when Peake tries to slam a full ball from outside leg stump through midwicket, but misses. It crashes into his boot.
16th over: Australia 113-2 (Connolly 21, Peake 9) Australia scored 79 in nine overs off the top, then 28 in six overs since Head’s wicket. Fortuin continues in that vein, singles coming for the two left-handers from the left-armer.
15th over: Australia 107-2 (Connolly 17, Peake 7) First boundary conceded by Mokoena, as Connolly gets on top of a pull shot and picks his spot around the corner.
14th over: Australia 102-2 (Connolly 12, Peake 7) So it’s time for Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. Peake and Connolly have been left at home while the folks are out of town. Peake chunks a couple of runs over the leg side, then nicks Fortuin past slip for four.
WICKET! Marsh lbw Fortuin 56, Australia 94-2
The formula holds true. Marsh, big early shots, race to 50, Australia flying, South Africa introduce spin, sand in the gears, Marsh gets out without converting. Flat ball skidding past a sweep shot. DRS review doesn’t change the umpire’s decision.
13th over: Australia 94-1 (Marsh 56, Connolly 11) The South Africans have held back Mokoena until the relatively gentle environs of the 13th over, and Marsh is kind to him as well, just taking a couple of singles to cover.
12th over: Australia 91-1 (Marsh 54, Connolly 10) What is with these Australians and spin? Fortuin works away at Connolly, who apparently has no fracking idea how to do literally anything with a spin bowler. Almost chips back a catch, finds the field repeatedly, and takes five balls to get off strike with a tuck to square. Marsh’s early charge has slowed right down, partly because he’s barely had strike. He hits Fortuin hard off the back foot to deep cover, but there’s now a fielder back.
11th over: Australia 89-1 (Marsh 53, Connolly 9) A nice cover drive from Connolly against Bosch does the job. That’s his best shot.
The Head-Marsh partnership ends today at 1379 runs, one behind Watson and Haddin. Could we compound them as the Headmarshter?
10th over: Australia 82-1 (Marsh 52, Connolly 3) Fortuin into the attack, and a catch goes down! Spin is immediately the danger again for Australia, Connolly drives in the air to cover, and how has Matthew Breetzke dropped that? He’s taken some stunners this series, then shells the one that loops to him at head height to hit the meat of both palms.
9th over: Australia 79-1 (Marsh 51, Connolly 1) Plenty of time for Cooper Connolly today to build an innings, and no run chase to worry about.
Updated
WICKET! Head b Bosch 24, Australia 78-1
He’s chopped on again! Just keeps on doing that lately, does Head. Bosch buys him out, really. A friendly bit of width from Bosch earlier in the over, not once but twice, and both disappear over cover. No fielder in the deep there during the fielding restrictions. But then Bosch gets tighter to the stumps, still with some angle across, and Head tries to flash it away with an angled blade. Bottom edge, stumps.
Half century! Mitchell Marsh 51 from 33 balls
8th over: Australia 70-0 (Marsh 51, Head 16) Marsh is just so effortless in the way he hits these. Leans back a little and plants a huge pull shot over the leg side, as so often coming from a ball that isn’t too short. Then aims through midwicket and gets an edge down through fine leg for four, again standing tall and swinging hard.
Marsh and Head, the combo has quickly become something very impressive. They’re currently 29th on the list of Australian one-day partnerships, which doesn’t sound too exciting, but at around 1350 runs and climbing, they’re within a couple of hundred runs of overtaking a bunch of other entries – and they’ve had fewer innings than any pairing ahead of them, having only batted together 26 times.
Marsh adds a brace to end the over, and raises another 50. He’s had one in every match this series.
7th over: Australia 57-0 (Marsh 39, Head 16) As in the previous two games, Marsh is striking clean as a whistle, while Head is more a rusty gate. But his runs are coming, as they have done recently. Bosch the bowler, and Head almost chops onto his stumps, before slashing a ball that’s almost caught at deep third, but goes just square of the fielder for four.
Updated
6th over: Australia 52-0 (Marsh 38, Head 12) Marsh just keeps hitting straight! These two shots tend towards the on side rather than the off, but they find the fence regardless, Marsh just swinging through the line of Lizaad Williams’ bowling
5th over: Australia 42-0 (Marsh 30, Head 11) Lovely straight drive from Head, very simple back past Coetzee along the floor. Then Marsh tucks in! Drives him square for four, huge powerful swing of the hands there, then lifts him off a length – that ball isn’t too full, it’s swinging away slightly as well, and Marsh doesn’t care. He hits it anyway, over long off for a one-bouncer. He’s in touch…
4th over: Australia 29-0 (Marsh 22, Head 7) The topsy-turvy game continues, with Williams now bowling an over that goes for just one.
3rd over: Australia 28-0 (Marsh 22, Head 6) Coetzee’s second over is a contrast to his first. The first boundary isn’t middled, just tucked away off the hip. The second boundary isn’t ever, toed over mid on. But the third big hit is crunched, pull shot over midwicket for six.
2nd over: Australia 10-0 (Marsh 5, Head 5) And the quiet times lasted one over! First Head, then Marsh, play pull shots from Williams for four.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Marsh 0, Head 0) A maiden over to begin the match. That’s quite something from Coetzee, who has got the ball swerving around the place like a remote-controlled plane. There has been early swing in this series, before the belting of the ball begins. Marsh is happy to wait, defending stoutly.
Elsewhere, in Guwahati, West Indies are making sure to give Virat Kohli plenty of runs to score in the chase. They’ve got 330 from 40 overs!
So. Another game for Peake, one of the young brigade the Aussies are investing in. That pushes Jack Edwards out, after taking five wickets, and Cam Green down to No7. What is going on with the Aussie selectors and Green? The guy who made 17 off 34 to tank the chase last time around is now the finisher? He’ll want to have completely renovated his approach during three days in the nets.
SA get de Zorzi and Rickelton in for Miller and Bavuma, Bosch and Coetzee in for the Jansens, and inexperienced seamer Mokoena in for the spinner Maharaj. That will please the Australians.
Teams
Australia
Mitch Marsh *
Travis Head
Cooper Connolly
Ollie Peake
Alex Carey +
Matt Renshaw
Cam Green
Pat Cummins
Xavier Bartlett
Mitchell Starc
Adam Zampa
South Africa
Aiden Markram *
Quinton de Kock +
Tony de Zorzi
Matthew Breetzke
Ryan Rickelton
Tristan Stubbs
Corbin Bosch
Gerald Coetzee
Bjorn Fortuin
Nqobani Mokoena
Lizaad Williams
South Africa win the toss and bowl
Hooray, coin time. Temba Bavuma is rested, with Aiden Markram taking his place as captain.
This would be much more interesting if they at least had the toss, so we would have the teams. Keen to see who’s playing today. Is Pat Cummins going to have a warm-up before the Test series? It would be more like a cooldown out there. He kind of has to play really, Ellis can’t play after that side strain that took him out of the last match early.
It’s not raining, they just had a lot of rain earlier, so even though the covers are off, they have a lot of soaking-up work to do. Potch is at reasonably high altitude, so apparently it’s cold today as well as wet. Not much fun for cricketers.
Toss delayed
Okay, we spoke too soon. There is a wet outfield at the ground in Potchefstroom, so the toss has been delayed.
You know what they say: better to have delayed and tossed than never to have tossed at all.
Preamble
Hello! Game 3 and final today, with South Africa already taking the series in the first two. It has been a battle of the middle overs, with the home spinners thoroughly doing the job over the visiting batting. Australia, defending champions, need a solution to getting tied down, with just a year to go until the next World Cup, also in South Africa. So, still a lot to play for today.
