Connolly Shines as Australia Crush South Africa in Record ODI Win
Australia finally had something to cheer about in the final ODI against South Africa, and what a performance it turned out to be. After losing the first two matches of the series, the Aussies were staring at the prospect of a humiliating home whitewash. But in Mackay, they flipped the script in stunning fashion, handing South Africa their heaviest-ever defeat in one-day cricket – a mammoth 276-run thrashing.
The tone was set right from the start. Captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bat, and from there, Australia’s top order delivered a batting masterclass. Travis Head, Marsh himself, and Cameron Green all scored centuries, marking the first time in men’s ODI history that Australia’s top three batters each reached triple figures in the same innings. Head smashed 142, Marsh made an even 100, and Green was the standout with a blistering 118 from just 47 balls – the second-fastest hundred by an Australian in ODIs. By the time the dust settled, Australia had piled up 431 for just two wickets, their second-highest ODI total ever and the most they’ve managed on home soil.
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Chasing 432 was always going to be an impossible task for South Africa, and it showed from the very beginning. They collapsed to 50 for four within nine overs, and from there, it was only a matter of time. Dewald Brevis briefly provided some entertainment with a quickfire 49 that included some towering sixes, but his dismissal effectively ended any faint hopes of resistance.
The real headline, though, came from a young left-arm spinner making just his third ODI appearance. Cooper Connolly, who had only celebrated his 22nd birthday two days earlier, produced a spell to remember. He ripped through the Proteas’ middle and lower order, finishing with figures of five for 22 – the youngest Australian ever to claim a five-wicket haul in one-day internationals. His performance not only sealed the game but also underlined his emergence as one of Australia’s brightest cricketing prospects.
South Africa were eventually bowled out for just 155 in under 25 overs, falling to their heaviest ODI defeat in terms of runs. For Australia, it was their second-biggest winning margin ever. Yet, despite the emphatic result, the series still went South Africa’s way, 2-1, thanks to their earlier wins.
After the game, skipper Marsh admitted it was bittersweet, calling it “a pretty crazy day” and acknowledging that while the performance was outstanding, it came just a little too late to rescue the series. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma, meanwhile, conceded that his team was “under the pump from the first ball” and praised Australia for being far superior on the day.
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