Australia Crush South Africa by 276 Runs in Mackay ODI, With Three Centurions
Green, Head and Marsh’s Centuries Help Australia Crush South Africa by 276 Runs in Mackay ODI
Australia delivered a cricket masterclass against South Africa in the third ODI of their 2025 series at Mackay, piling up a colossal 431 for 2 before restricting the visitors to a mere 155, sealing the game with a massive 276-run victory. This win not only kept Australia’s unbeaten record in home ODI series intact but also showcased sensational centuries from Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green, along with a game-changing five-for by young spinner Cooper Connolly.
Australia’s Batting Brilliance
Winning the toss, Aussie captain Mitchell Marsh opted to bat first under the lights, and what followed was a batting bonanza.
Opening batsmen Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh crafted a majestic partnership of 250 runs over 34.1 overs. Head blazed a magnificent 142 off 103 balls, combining aggression with calmness and celebrating his century with his trademark helmet-on-bat salute. Marsh was equally solid and smart, scoring a well-paced 100 off 105 balls, hitting his century soon after Head.
Cameron Green then took center stage, promoted ahead of Marnus Labuschagne, and unleashed one of the most explosive innings seen in ODI cricket. His whirlwind 118 not out, off just 47 balls, included a flurry of sixes and boundaries that razed the South African bowling. Green’s hundred was the second-fastest ODI century for Australia, just shy of Glenn Maxwell’s record.
Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis finished unscathed with a vital 50 not out, and the pair added 164 runs in just 13.3 overs, taking full advantage of the flat pitch and tiring bowlers.
Australia’s total of 431 for 2 stands as the second-highest ODI score in their history, a testament to their batting firepower.
South Africa Collapses Under Pressure
Chasing 432, South Africa’s innings that once showed promise soon turned into a nightmare. Early wickets of opening batsmen and skipper Temba Bavuma triggered a stunning collapse. South Africa struggled against an accurate Australian pace attack led by Xavier Bartlett and Sean Abbott.
Spinner Cooper Connolly was the star of the day with an impeccable 5 for 22, including vital wickets caught brilliantly by teammates like Marnus Labuschagne. At just 22 years old, Connolly became the youngest Australian spinner to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs and recorded the best figures by an Aussie spinner since 2023.
The only real resistance came from Dewald Brevis, who scored a fighting 49 runs, peppered with two sixes off Adam Zampa. However, Brevis’s dismissal at the hands of a stunning catch at long-off sealed the fate of South Africa, who were bowled out inside 25 overs.
Match Summary
Team | Score | Notable Performances | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 431/2 (50 overs) | Head 142, Green 118*, Marsh 100, Inglis 50* | Won by 276 runs |
South Africa | 155 all out (24.5 overs) | Connolly 5/22, Brevis 49 | Lost |
Series Overview
Australia’s dominant performance in this final ODI prevented a whitewash, reducing the series loss margin to 2-1. South Africa had already taken the first two matches convincingly.
Match | Result | Series Score |
|---|---|---|
1st ODI | South Africa won by 98 runs | 1-0 |
2nd ODI | South Africa won by 84 runs | 2-0 |
3rd ODI | Australia won by 276 runs | 2-1 |
Tactical Insights and Reflections
The decision to bat first was vindicated by the remarkable batting effort under lights at a venue where the ball offered seam movement initially; Australia’s bowlers exploited this to stifle South Africa.
The fielding brilliance, especially the sharp catches by Labuschagne, played a key role in supporting Connolly’s bowling. Australia’s all-round game — fierce batting and smart bowling — demonstrated their championship calibre.
Speaking post-match, Head expressed delight in the innings and credited the team environment for the freedom to play their natural game. Marsh noted the series was tough but the final win was "very special” especially to uphold their record of never losing a home ODI series by a whitewash.
South African captain Bavuma accepted the comprehensive defeat and emphasized the need for improvement to compete with top teams consistently.
What Next?
With momentum on their side, Australia will look to build on this exciting form in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. South Africa, despite the heavy loss, have positives to take from standout individual performances and will aim to regroup quickly.