South Africa fights back with convincing win in 3rd ODI over Aus after Markram 100

 

South Africa has made a tremendous comeback in the five-match ODI series by defeating Australia by a huge margin of 111 runs.  Australia, the five-time world champion, finally got the challenge from the hosts.  With Aiden Markram's second ODI century, South Africa made its fourth highest score and eliminated the Kangaroos in 35 overs.  Quinton de Kock and captain Temba Bavuma gave South Africa its first century partnership in 21 matches and posted a huge score of 338/6 on the scoreboard. Then, with the help of their spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, the Proteas bowled out Australia for 227 runs in 34.3 overs.  .  The fourth match of the series will be played in Centurion on September.

 At one point in this run chase, Australia seemed to be in complete rhythm.  In the 15th over its score had reached 140 runs for 1 wicket, but when

 When Tabrez Shamsi dismissed Mitchell Marsh (29) , Australia lost 9 wickets for 87 runs .  Keshav Maharaj took two wickets for 37 runs, which was the third most economical bowling of his ODI career.  At a venue where it was most difficult to score runs on ball speed, both batting orders scored quickly and later struggled against slower balls and spin. The pitch helped the spinners more during the 2nd innings and the Aussies struggled to keep up with the asking rate . 

De Kock (82) and Bavuma (57) scored 64 runs in the first 10 overs for South Africa, while for Australia, David Warner, Travis Head and Marsh scored 104 runs in blistering style  in their powerplay, which is their fourth highest score in this format.  What South Africa had, Australia did not have....good middle order scores 

 That is, skilled batsmen of the middle overs, who changed gears and partnerships in the middle period.  For example, De Kock scored only 3 runs in the first 18 balls he faced and scored 79 runs in the next 74 balls while South Africa made a century partnership and two fifty-run partnerships, including a partnership for the sixth wicket.  Australia did not make any partnership. DeKock was in excellent form today playing his vintage pull shots in front of square whereas Bavuma looked in great nick.  Then Markram held the innings together after crucial loss of few wickets . Markram showed his true talent by playing imperious strokes to put the hosts in a strong position at half time . He got to his 100 on the last ball of 50th over to end on 102 notout . The Australian bowling attack was hammered today . 

For Australia, the chase looked on while Warner was batting brilliantly but he slipped and got runout which brought South Africa into the game and then wickets started for fall like nine pins for the Aussies as Shamsi and Maharaj run riot with 2 wickets apiece while Coertzee ripped through the lower half with 4 wickets