Ngidi 5 seals South Africa's ODI series win over inept Aussies after Maharaj spin won Proteas 1st ODI

 


Australia slumped to yet another ODI series defeat, going down by 84 runs to South Africa on Friday at home. This marked their fifth consecutive ODI series loss to the Proteas. Filling in for the injured Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi spearheaded South Africa’s attack with a brilliant five-wicket haul.

Australia’s struggles against South Africa continue: they have now lost eight of their last ten bilateral ODI series against the Proteas, and South Africa has claimed victory in 17 of the last 21 matches between the two sides. Remarkably, less than two years after lifting the ODI World Cup, Australia has won just one of their last eight matches and suffered three straight bilateral series defeats.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa were under pressure early, reduced to 23 for 2 after losing openers Ryan Rickelton (8) and Aiden Markram (0). From there, Tony de Zorzi (38) and Matthew Breetzke (88) steadied the innings with a 67-run stand. After de Zorzi’s dismissal, Breetzke found support in Tristan Stubbs (74), and the pair added 89 crucial runs with sparkling strokeplay .

That partnership stabilized South Africa’s innings in the middle overs, but a late collapse saw them lose 4 wickets for just 31 runs in the space of 35 balls, tumbling from 233 for 5 to 264 for 9. They were eventually bowled out for 277.

Australia’s chase quickly unraveled. In the third over, Travis Head (6) fell attempting to take on Nandre Burger, before Marnus Labuschagne (1) edged behind cheaply. Skipper Mitchell Marsh showed early intent with four boundaries but was dismissed for 18.

Cameron Green (35)  and Josh Inglis tried to revive the innings with a 67-run fourth-wicket partnership, but Green fell to Senuran Muthusamy, caught and bowled. Inglis held firm & played glorious strokes all around the ground but he was fighting a lone battle as but wickets continued to tumble at the other end with remaining quality batters Carey & Hardie failing to fire . Australia’s innings folded for just 193, handing South Africa a comprehensive victory. Ngidi finished with match-winning figures of 5 for 42.


1st ODI - Maharaj Masterclass 


Earlier in the 1st ODI , defending World champions Australia suffered a heavy defeat , losing to South Africa by 98 runs. Batting first, Temba Bavuma’s side posted 296 for 8, before dismissing the visitors for just 198 in 40.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was the star, ripping through Australia’s middle order with a five-wicket haul that sealed the win.

Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to field, but the decision backfired as South Africa’s openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton got off to a blazing start. The pair added 92 for the first wicket. Rickelton made 33 off 43 balls, while Markram struck a fluent 82 from 81 deliveries, hitting nine fours.

Bavuma (65 off 74, 5 fours) and Matthew Breetzke (57 off 56, 7 fours, 1 six) carried the innings forward, before South Africa lost quick wickets in the middle overs. Tristan Stubbs (0) and Dewald Brevis (6) departed cheaply, but Wiaan Mulder provided a late push with 31 from 26 balls.

Australia’s bowlers struggled to contain the Proteas’ batting. Travis Head was the most successful, taking 4 for 57, while Ben Dwarshuis claimed 2 for 53.

Chasing 297, Australia began brightly through openers Head and Marsh, who scored briskly. But once Head fell for 27 (24 balls) to Prenelan Subrayen, the innings unraveled. Maharaj’s spin proved unplayable for Australia’s middle order. He dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (1), Cameron Green (3), Josh Inglis (5), Alex Carey (0), and Aaron Hardie (4), leaving Marsh stranded at the other end. From 60 without loss, Australia collapsed to 89 for 6 within just 9.2 overs — effectively sealing South Africa’s win.

Marsh fought hard, making 88 off 96 balls with 10 boundaries, and found some resistance from Dwarshuis (33 off 52), but the rest of the batting folded meekly. Australia were bowled out for 198.

Besides Maharaj’s brilliant 5 for 33, Ngidi also impressed with 2 for 28, while Burger (2 for 54) and Subrayen (1 for 46) chipped in.


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