Matthew Breetzke’s second ODI century spurs South Africa to 67-run win over Australia

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Matthew Breetzke notched his second ODI hundred and spinner Keshav Maharaj made up for the absence of four frontline fast bowlers to help South Africa beat Australia by 67 runs on Thursday.

Breetzke scored 112 off 106 balls and Marco Jansen countercharged in the latter half of the innings with a 75 that included four sixes and seven boundaries to give South Africa a total of 297-8.

Australia, which won the toss and elected field, was restricted by the two left-arm spinners — Maharaj (4-20) and Bjorn Fortuin (2-34) — on a tacky wicket to get bowled out for 230 in 41.2 overs.

South Africa leads the three-match series 1-0 with games on Sunday and Wednesday.

“Very satisfied,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said. “The way Matthew Breetzke played, the positions and intensity was something to commend. The way Marco Jansen played as well was great … the spinners did an incredible job.”

Australia squanders Marsh blitz

Captain Mitchell Marsh had flattened the pace with his explosive hitting and made 60 off 36 balls in a whirlwind opening stand with Travis Head of 90 off 56 balls before Australia came down crashing against the South African spin duo.

Marsh smacked six sixes, including a 104-meter hit against Jansen that sailed over the roof of the dressing room at square leg and landed at the roadside before he chipped Maharaj to covers in the 10th over.

The Marsh blitz had provided Australia a perfect platform and it moved to 129-1 in 16 overs but Maharaj and Fortuin kept squeezing the tourists as the old ball started to grip and turn sharply.

Head (36) had welcomed fast bowler Gerald Coetzee in ODIs after three years with four boundaries in his first over before the left-hander top-edged a pull to third in the 17th over.

Maharaj and Fortuin then ran through the middle order with Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly mistiming their shots against Fortuin, and Maharaj accounting for the wickets of Cameron Green and debutant all-rounder Jack Edwards.

Matt Renshaw made 44 but was caught by a diving Jansen one-handed at deep mid-wicket in the 37th over that gave Coetzee his first wicket in the ODIs since he last played the 50-over format nearly three years ago.

South Africa is battling with a lengthy injury list with four of its fast bowlers including Kagiso Rabada and Kwena Maphaka ruled out of the series due to hamstring injuries.

Breetzke and Jansen lift South Africa

Breetzke and Jansen’s 107-run sixth-wicket stand in 14 overs spurred South Africa after Australia had controlled the game and kept the home team under check at 168-5 in the 34th over.

Josh Hazlewood (1-50) was disciplined with the new ball and was more effective than Mitchell Starc (0-60) while Nathan Ellis continued his fine form with the use of wobble seam and slow deliveries (3-57).

Adam Zampa also struck inside his first two overs with the wickets of Bavuma (30) and Ryan Rickelton (27) while David Miller struggled to get going and made 9 off 25 balls before Jansen and Breetzke shared a century-stand.

Breetzke took a back seat as Jansen blazed his way to 41 off 31 balls and was lucky when Connolly dropped a difficult catch before he completed his third ODI half-century.

Breetzke completed his century with a single in the 44th over and celebrated the landmark with a big roar and gesture to the sky. He was run out in the 48th over while going for a needless second run.

Jansen was trapped leg before wicket by Ellis in the next over but not before the left-hander had equaled his career-best score and gave South Africa enough runs to defend.

“Pretty disappointing,” Marsh said. “South Africa outplayed us … we pushed to try and get a couple of extra wickets and it didn’t work out. I sound like a broken record but we weren’t able to form partnerships.”

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