Australia denied South Africa a clean sweep in the series finale at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, claiming a 47-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after persistent Highveld rain brought an early end to proceedings. While Mitchell Marsh’s side salvaged pride to make it 2-1, the silverware remained firmly in South African hands, capping off a commanding white-ball campaign that saw spin maestro Keshav Maharaj named Player of the Series.
With the bilateral series already secured following back-to-back triumphs in Durban and Johannesburg, the Proteas opted to test their bench depth ahead of the upcoming Test series, making five changes. Regular captain Temba Bavuma, David Miller, and Marco Jansen were rested, handing Aiden Markram the captaincy reins while Ryan Rickelton, Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, and young seamer Nqobani Mokoena entered the fray. Australia also welcomed back frontline paceman Mitchell Starc and Test skipper Pat Cummins for his first ODI appearance in nearly two years.
Carey and Marsh Lead Australian Charge Despite Bosch's Four-For
Electing to bowl under overcast skies after a delayed start due to wet conditions, South Africa endured a fiery assault from Mitchell Marsh. Echoing his destructive starts from the opening two matches, Marsh dominated the powerplay, smashing eight boundaries and two sixes on his way to a 33-ball fifty. Travis Head provided brisk support with 24 before chopping a delivery from Bosch (4-60) onto his stumps.
Bjorn Fortuin broke the 94-run stand by pinning Marsh lbw for 56, and when Coetzee bowled Cooper Connolly for 23, South Africa looked poised to wrest back control at 118/3.
However, Australia found stability through Player of the Match Alex Carey (74 off 88) and 19-year-old rising talent Oliver Peake (48 off 53). The pair constructed a measured 73-run stand for the fourth wicket, neutralizing the middle-overs squeeze that had unpicked Australia in Durban and Johannesburg. Peake fell agonisingly short of a half-century when Fortuin produced a diving catch at backward point off Bosch, but Carey pushed on alongside Matt Renshaw (30) to steer the visitors past 250.
Late strikes from Bosch and Lizaad Williams (2-48) triggered a flurry of lower-order wickets, with Australia losing five wickets for 73 runs in the final ten overs, before Starc belted 11 off seven balls to carry Australia to an imposing 322/9.
Bartlett and Zampa Stifle Chase Before Rain Has the Final Say
Faced with a stiff chase of 323, South Africa’s top order suffered an immediate blow. Xavier Bartlett (2-25) struck in his opening over, removing Quinton de Kock for a five-ball duck as he flicked a short ball straight to Starc at backward square leg. Four overs later, Bartlett produced a sharp in-dipper to trap skipper Markram lbw for 15, leaving the hosts reeling at 30/2.
Ryan Rickelton led a determined counter-attack alongside Durban centurion Matthew Breetzke (25). Rickelton greeted Cummins with a swivel-pull for six over midwicket and launched Renshaw into the stands to reach a fiery half-century off just 48 balls.
Just as the 72-run third-wicket partnership began to threaten Australia’s ascendancy, leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2-34) turned the tide. Bouncing back from a punishing outing at the Wanderers, Zampa produced a classic dipping delivery to draw Breetzke forward and have him stumped by Carey for 25. Two overs later, Zampa trapped Tristan Stubbs (14) lbw with a well-disguised googly, reducing the Proteas to 125/4.
Rickelton stood firm with an unbeaten 71 off 81 deliveries alongside all-rounder Bosch (13*), but the required rate climbed steeply. At 8:30 pm local time, with South Africa on 145/4 after 28 overs, well adrift of the DLS par score of 192, the heavens opened. After an hour-long wait, umpires officially called off the match, handing Australia a 47-run DLS victory.
Scorecard
While denied a 3-0 sweep, the Proteas take immense confidence from a 2-1 series victory that displayed exceptional domestic depth, batting maturity, and spin mastery against the five-time world champions. With the white-ball leg wrapped up, focus now turns to the upcoming red-ball battle as both nations prepare to clash in the Test series.
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