South Africa marked their home season opener in style, defeating Australia by 67 runs in the first ODI at Durban, even without frontline bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka. Playing on Heritage Day, the hosts leaned on depth and versatility to seal the win.
Matthew Breetzke was the standout, becoming the fastest player to reach the top of the ODI run scoring charts within just 14 innings, notching the second century of his career in the process. Marco Jansen matched his personal best score of 75 while also grabbing four catches in the field, one of them a stunning effort. Spin twins Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin combined for six wickets, dismantling the Australian middle and lower order, which lost nine wickets for only 101 runs.
Chasing what would have been the second highest successful run chase ever recorded at Kingsmead, Australia began explosively. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head added 90 runs inside ten overs, punishing South Africa’s new ball bowlers who battled with their lengths early on. Marsh smashed a rapid fifty off just 31 deliveries, highlighted by a towering 104 metre maximum, while Head found his rhythm once Corbin Bosch entered the attack.
However, the introduction of spin changed the complexion of the innings. Maharaj settled things down first, before Jansen struck twice and Fortuin claimed his own scalp through a sharp catch behind the stumps. Maharaj then removed both Cameron Green and Jack Edwards to leave the visitors reeling at 188 for 6.
A late fightback from Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Starc briefly threatened South Africa’s control, but a stunning boundary catch from Jansen turned the tide again, and Maharaj wrapped things up by dismissing Adam Zampa.
Notably, since the 2023 World Cup, Australia have averaged just 21.57 against left arm spin, and Maharaj alone has taken 10 wickets against them in four innings, underlining South Africa’s tactical masterstroke.
