Australia salvaged some pride on a soggy afternoon in Potchefstroom, taking the dead rubber by 45 runs on the DLS method after storms ended the contest. South Africa had already wrapped up the series at the Wanderers, and they rested five players here, which perhaps showed.
The visitors finally looked like a batting unit. Every one of their top seven reached at least 23, a rarity on this tour. Mitchell Marsh set the tone, hammering seven boundaries and a six over deep midwicket inside the first six overs, then reaching fifty before the powerplay closed. Lbw to Bjorn Fortuin in the 14th over, he departed for 56 off 42 deliveries. Travis Head, meanwhile, had edged Corbin Bosch onto his stumps for 24.
Alex Carey then took charge. Beginning at 118 for 3, he crawled to 14 from his first 25 balls before finding his groove against both seamers and spinners. His half-century came from 68 deliveries, his first in the format for more than a year, and he kicked on until Bosch had him in the 46th over. Oliver Peake chipped in with 48 before a sharp catch by Fortuin ended his stay. Bosch finished with 4 for 60, and Australia posted 322.
Chasing a mountain, the hosts lost both openers to Xavier Bartlett early. Quinton de Kock fell for a duck, and Aiden Markram, on 15, was pinned by a sharp inswinger. Ryan Rickelton fought back, smashing sixes off Pat Cummins, who was playing his first one-day match in almost two years, and Matt Renshaw en route to a 48-ball half-century.
Then Adam Zampa spun a web. He bagged Matthew Breetzke, stumped for 25, and Tristan Stubbs, trapped lbw for 14, finishing with 2 for 34. At 145 for 4 after 28 overs, South Africa were well behind when rain arrived. Rickelton remained unbeaten on 71 from 81.
With six of these players also in next week’s Test squad, the confidence boost could prove handy.
