Highlights of South Africa vs. Australia’s 5th ODI in 2023
Highlights of South Africa vs. Australia’s 5th ODI in 2023, At the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa and Australia played their fifth and final one-day international game of the series. The series was leveled before the decider as 2-2. So, the winner of the decider would go on to win the series. It was the last game for Quinton de Cock from his ODI career as he took retirement before the World Cup. Both the teams were ready to compete, and they were finalizing their playing combination as the World Cup is around the corner. Therefore, we shall review the game’s highlights below.
Report for toss and pitch
Australia won the toss and decided to field first. Mitchell Marsh, Captain of Australia, was trusting the typical pitch of the Wanderers Stadium. The pitch behaves very well for the pace bowlers, and it is difficult for the batsman to play fast bowling here at a good line and length. The batters can also play their shots freely but after facing some balls so they can be used to the pitch. Here, the first-inning projected score is 259, which can become easy for the chasing side late in the game. This could be the reason that Mitchell Marsh opted to bowl first. Australia made three changes to their lineup: Travis Head was replaced by Jos Inglis, Cameron Green replaced Marcus Stoinis, and Sean Abbot replaced Josh Hazlewood. On the other side, South Africa made two changes: Andile Phehlukwayo replaced Kagiso Rabada, and Temba Bavuma came into the side in the place of Reeza Hendricks.
Weather Update
The weather was clear and there were no signs of rain in the stadium, so the rain did not spoil the finale of the series, which was very good for the spectators and both the teams.
Australia Playing 11
Mitchell Marsh(c), Alex Carey(wk), Tim David, Adam Zampa, Cameron Green, David Warner, Sean Abbot, Marnus Labuschange, Josh Inglis, Michael Neser, Nathan Ellis.
South Africa Playing 11
Teba Bavuma(c), Quinton de Cock(wk), David Miller, Adien Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Heinrich Klaseen, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi.
Last ODI For Quinton de Cock
The biggest news from the match was that it was the last ODI game for the South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Cock. Quinton de Cock took retirement from the ODI format at the mere age of only 30. He made this announcement a few days ago, which was like a bombshell for the whole cricketing community. Fans could not believe the news. He took retirement from the format only a few days before the World Cup in India. Quinton de Cock has contributed very beautifully to South African cricket, and he is one of the best wicketkeepers South Africa has ever produced. Quinton de Cock has played 140 ODI Internationals for South Africa, where he has been able to score 5778 runs at an average of 43.44 and a strike rate of 96. He has scored 17 centuries and 26 half-centuries. So, he was a great asset to this South African ODI side.
South Africa establishing a total
South Africa was put to bat first by Australia. The Australian bowlers started very beautifully and got rid of the opposite captain, Temba Bavuma, who was run out on a golden duck by a good piece of fielding from Marnus Labuschange. Quinton de Cock could only manage to score only 27 runs on his final ODI. After that, South Africa was Four down with Miller and Markaram at the crease. Both of them managed to score half-centuries, with Miller getting out on 63 and Markaram having very unfortunate as Tim David did him when he was at 93, close to a ton. Jansen and Phehlukwayo scored rapid runs and built a good partnership, so they took South Africa to an incredible total, which was defendable. The Australian bowling was very good at the start, but they could have done better when the pair of Miller and Markaram was at the crease. Adam Zampa was the leading bowler with the best figures from the Aussie side.
Australia chasing down the Target
David Warner and Jos Inglis were out very cheaply in the chase. But the captain led from the front and normalized the scoring rate with the assistance of Marnus Labuschange, who Marco Jansen then did at a score of 44. Mitchell Marsh scored 12 boundaries with six sixes and six fours and proved to be the lone warrior for the Aussie side in the chase. He scored 73 runs. No one contributed to the chase, and the middle and lower order collapsed very severely. The Australian side was bowled out under 35 overs at a score of only 193. So, as a result, South Africa won by 122 runs and clinched the ODI series 3-2. Marco Jansen was the pick of the bowlers as he took a fifer, and Keshav Maharaj also bowled very superbly as he took four wickets.
Marco Jansen with All Round Performance
Marco Jansen is a Young All Rounder, having the ability both to score and as well as to take wickets as well. In the pivotal game, he turned out to be the crucial factor that set the two sides apart. First, he scored a rapid innings of 47 runs, taking only 23 balls, and he struck four fours and three sixes in his quick innings. After that, he bowled one of the best spells of his career by taking five wickets in the most crucial time of the decider. He destroyed the Australian top order by getting rid of David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschnage, and Alex Carey. He has the potential to become part of the South African squad, which will go to India to play in the World Cup.
Player of the Match and Series
Marco Jensen was obviously named Player of the Match for his all-around effort. The player of the tournament was Aiden Markaram for his splendid batting. In the ODI series, he scored 225 runs overall, averaging 45. So, after losing two consecutive ODIs, the South African side made a remarkable comeback and clinched the series 3-2.
