SA vs AUS, 1st ODI: Matthew Breetzke hundred, Keshav Maharaj spin sink Australia

Brief Score: South Africa (297 for 8) beat Australia (230) by 67 runs in Durban.

Matthew Breetzke hit a brilliant hundred and Keshav Maharaj claimed four wickets as South Africa beat Australia by 67 runs in the first ODI in Durban on Thursday. Australia got off to a flying start in their chase but lost nine wickets for 101 runs to be bowled out for 230.

South Africa made 297 for 8 after Breetzke scored 112 off 106 balls and Marco Jansen hit 75 off 59 balls. The pair added 107 runs for the sixth wicket to give the hosts a strong finish after slumping to 168 for 5.

South Africa vs Australia, 1st ODI: How it happened

Australia started the chase in style. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head added 90 runs for the first wicket in just 9.2 overs. Marsh was at his best as he hit 60 off 36 balls. Jansen went for 17 runs in one over and hit a huge 104 meter six on his fifty.

Head made 36 off 37 balls and also looked in good touch. However, South Africa soon found their way back into the game when Maharaj was brought into the attack.

Marsh tried to drive Maharaj and found Breetzke in hiding. The wicket gave South Africa a much-needed break. Maharaj completed his first spell at 1-13 from four overs to help slow Australia’s scoring.

Jansen then came back and eliminated Head. Australia’s opening batsman shot at the crease and was caught deep at third. Fortuin soon dismissed Josh Inglis who turned to slip.

Australia were still in a good position at 188 for 6 but their chase was falling apart. Maharaj removed Cameron Green and Jack Edwards as the pressure mounted. Australia needed 110 runs from 20.3 overs but could not build another big partnership.

Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Starc did their best to keep the chase alive. They added 14 runs in one over from Jansen, but South Africa quickly pulled things back. Maharaj bowled a maiden and Jansen and Fortuin gave up just two runs in their next two overs.

The key moment came when Renshaw was dismissed for 44. He pulled a short ball from Gerald Coetzee towards the boundary but Jansen made a superb one-handed catch. Australia were 215 for 7 at that point and needed 83 runs from 82 balls.

Bosch took two late wickets before Maharaj completed the game by removing Adam Žampa. Spiner finished with 4 for 20 from 9.2 overs while Fortuin took 2 for 34.

Australia’s collapse was even more costly because of the strong start they made. They reached 129 for 1 and looked set for a successful run chase before losing wickets too often.

South Africa were also under pressure earlier in the day. Australia chose to bowl first and their attack kept the home side at bay for most of the innings.

Tony de Zorzi went for a seven-ball duck while Quinton de Kock fell soon after. South Africa were 29 for 2 in the eighth over.

Temba Bavuma made 30 off 48 balls before being caught behind Adam Žampa. Ryan Rickelton made 19 but was also dismissed.

Breetzke held the innings together. He reached his fifty off 51 balls and kept South Africa rolling despite the wickets around him.

David Miller struggled for runs and fell to 9 from 24 balls. But Jansen joined Breetzke and changed the tempo of the innings.

Jansen attacked the Australian bowlers and hit three sixes off Mitchell Starc. He reached his 50th and helped take the pressure off Breetzke.

Breetzke reached his hundred with a single in the 44th over. He raised his bat and looked to the heavens as he celebrated his second ODI century. He went on to make 112 off 106 balls.

Jansen was out on 75 off 59 balls but South Africa finished strongly. They scored 54 runs in the last five overs to reach 297 for 8.

Breetzke’s hundred and Jansen’s attacking innings gave South Africa a total they could defend. Maharaj and Fortuin then did the rest with the ball as Australia’s batting fell apart.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh admitted his team did not make the most of their chances.

“I’m quite disappointed. South Africa outplayed us. It was good cricket but we fell short,” Marsh said.

“We had our opportunities. I probably sound like a broken record talking about our batting partnership, but we just couldn’t create them tonight.”

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was happy with the way his team fought back after tough starts in both innings.

“Very pleased. It was a good fight from the batsmen and bowlers,” said Bavuma.

“If you look at the way both innings started, we were under pressure in the first 10 overs of each, but we managed to get a very competitive score on that wicket.

The second ODI will be played in Johannesburg on Sunday and Australia are expected to welcome back captain Pat Cummins.

– The end