Despite a 114 from captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas posted 222 which Australia chased down to claim a three-wicket victory in the 1st ODI in Bloemfontein.
Australia opted to bowl first and on a pitch that produced invariable bounce the Proteas struggled all around. All they did was stick to their line and lengths making it difficult for the usual free-flowing batters to open up and their field placements were accurate to restrict the quick running between the wickets
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma was the most impressive batter in green and gold, disciplined with the good balls and putting away any Aussie delivery that missed the mark.
Despite an outstanding performance by the skipper, his search for partners lasted throughout the innings, with Marco Jansen at 7 the only player to provide a decent indication that he was in it for the long run. He supported his skipper in a 57-run stand, scoring 32 off 40, but his efforts only helped SA get to 157-8.
Bavuma got stuck in and farmed the strike in the last three overs, to reach a captain’s century to take the Proteas to 222 all out. He scored 114 off 142 balls (14 fours, 1 sixes).
The expectation was for Australia to make light work of their 223-run target, but the Proteas bowlers fought back wonderfully to make the match a contest.
Marco Jansen was the first bowler to strike, David Warner facing just two deliveries before cutting a wider delivery onto his stumps.
Australia kept their attacking mentality and it seemed to have been at their detriment, as visiting skipper Mitchell Marsh got a leading edge off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada to the keeper. The Aussies took their total to 56 in 7.6 overs, but Rabada took another wicket bowling Josh Inglis. Travis Head (33 off 28) was then dismissed by Lungi Ngidi the following over after skying it to square leg. The Auseis were now 56-4 after 8.4 overs.
Gerald Coetzee got a beautiful middle-stump wicket off his first ball, to dismiss Alex Carey and reduce Australia to 72-5 in the 12th over.
Coetzee then struck again in the 14th over dismissing Marcus Stoinis and reducing Australia to 93-6. Sean Abbott was then beautifully bowled through the gate by Maharaj, as Australia were shockingly 7 down for 113 runs halfway through the 16th over.
Concussion substitute Marnus Labuschagne (80 off 93) – in for Cameron Green) – and Ashton Agar (48 off 68) took Australia over the line with a 112-run partnership.
