Australia produced a record-breaking batting performance to secure a commanding 276-run victory over South Africa in the final one-day international, salvaging pride after conceding the series in earlier matches.
The home team’s top order delivered an extraordinary display of power hitting, amassing a colossal 431-2 from their 50 overs. Travis Head set the foundation with a dominant 142, sharing a 250-run opening stand with Mitchell Marsh, who contributed exactly 100 runs. The assault continued as Cameron Green unleashed a devastating unbeaten 118 from just 55 deliveries, featuring eight sixes in his maiden international century.
Australia’s total marked their second-highest in men’s ODI history, surpassed only by their 434-run effort against the same opposition in 2006. The hosts struck 18 sixes in total during their innings, with Alex Carey adding an unbeaten half-century in the closing stages.
Facing an insurmountable target, South Africa’s chase never gained momentum as they collapsed to 155 all out in under 25 overs. Spinner Cooper Connolly proved instrumental in the bowling effort, claiming impressive figures of 5-22 while being supported by sharp fielding from his teammates.
The comprehensive victory provided some consolation for the 50-over world champions, who had already lost the series following defeats in the opening two matches. South Africa entered the contest without several key pace bowlers, with Kagiso Rabada missing the entire series due to injury and Lungi Ngidi being rested for the final encounter.
The match demonstrated Australia’s formidable batting capabilities when their top order fires simultaneously, though the performance arrived too late to alter the series outcome against opponents who had shown superior consistency across the preceding contests.
