Australia may have lost the series, but they ended it in explosive style — smashing records and overwhelming South Africa by 276 runs in Mackay on Sunday. It was a day when Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green turned the Great Barrier Reef Arena into a six-hitting carnival, leaving fans with one of the most dominant ODI performances in recent memory.
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A Day of Redemption
Coming into the third ODI, Australia had already lost the series 2–0 and were desperate to avoid a whitewash. What followed was nothing short of record-breaking cricket:
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Australia: 431/2 in 50 overs (their highest ODI total on home soil).
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South Africa: All out for 155 in 24.5 overs.
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Result: Australia won by 276 runs, their second-biggest win in ODI history.
The Batting Blitz
Head & Marsh Lay the Platform
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Travis Head (142 off 103 balls): Blazed 17 fours and 5 sixes.
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Mitchell Marsh (100 off 106 balls): Anchored and attacked when needed.
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Their 250-run stand was:
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Australia’s highest-ever opening partnership vs South Africa.
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5th highest opening stand in Australia’s ODI history.
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Head’s early aggression (half-century in 32 balls) set the tone, while Marsh’s leadership gave stability.
Cameron Green’s Explosive Maiden Century
If the openers built the castle, Cameron Green blew the roof off it.
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118 off 55 balls* (8 sixes, 7 fours).
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Century in just 47 balls → 2nd fastest by an Australian (only Glenn Maxwell has done it quicker).
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Fastest ODI hundred ever against South Africa.
Green’s partnership with Alex Carey (50* off 38) added 164 runs at 12.14 runs per over — the quickest 150+ stand in Australia’s ODI history.
Key Batting Numbers
| Batter | Runs (Balls) | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Head | 142 (103) | 137.8 | 17 | 5 |
| Mitchell Marsh | 100 (106) | 94.3 | 9 | 5 |
| Cameron Green | 118* (55) | 214.5 | 7 | 8 |
| Alex Carey | 50* (38) | 131.6 | 2 | 1 |
Bowling Brilliance: Connolly’s Coming of Age
After the batting fireworks, 22-year-old spinner Cooper Connolly stole the spotlight with the ball.
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5/22 in 5 overs → Best ODI figures by an Australian spinner.
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Became the youngest Australian to claim a five-wicket haul in ODIs (22 years, 2 days).
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Dismissed Dewald Brevis (49), who was South Africa’s only hope of a fightback.
South Africa’s innings never got going:
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50/4 in 9 overs → top order blown away.
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Bowled out in just 24.5 overs.
Records That Tumbled
Some standout milestones from this epic performance:
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431/2 → 2nd highest ODI total for Australia (only behind 434 vs SA in 2006).
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18 sixes → Australia’s most in a home ODI.
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276-run win → Biggest defeat for South Africa in ODIs, and 4th biggest among Full Members.
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Top three (Head, Marsh, Green) all scoring centuries → Only 2nd time in ODI history (after South Africa vs West Indies, 2015).
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Green’s 47-ball ton → Fastest ever against South Africa.
What They Said
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Mitchell Marsh (Australia captain):
“A pretty crazy day, wasn’t it? A full performance from the lads. Shame it was a little bit too late, but full credit to South Africa — they were outstanding in the first two games.” -
Cameron Green:
“The two openers batted beautifully, so me and Kez (Carey) could just go out with freedom. Pretty special to get my first hundred this way.” -
Temba Bavuma (South Africa captain):
“We were under the pump from the first ball. They put us under pressure, and we didn’t have the answers today.”
Final Word
Australia may have lost the series 2–1, but this win was about pride, power, and promise:
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Head showed his reliability.
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Marsh led from the front.
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Green announced himself as a future superstar.
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Connolly offered a glimpse of Australia’s spinning future.
For South Africa, it was a reminder that resting frontline quicks can be risky against a side as destructive as Australia.
Fans came expecting fireworks. Australia gave them a record-breaking bonfire.
