The third ODI of the three-match series between Australia and South Africa is already underway, and the 250-run stand between Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh became the second-largest stand in ODI history. At the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, the Australians easily passed the 100-run threshold for the first wicket in the thirteenth over.
This was the first time Australia had formed a 100-plus stand in the 50-over format in the previous 24 ODI innings. This last occurred in a round-robin match against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup. David Warner was out on the opening ball of the 20th over, ending the 175-run stand, but Head was also involved there.
Highest collaborations by runs in Australia-South Africa ODIs
| S. No. | Partners | Runs | Wicket | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| 1 | David Miller, Faf du Plessis | 252 | 4th | Australia | Hobart | 2018 |
2 |
Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh |
250 |
1st |
South Africa |
Mackay |
2025 |
| 3 | Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan | 222 | 4th | South Africa | Melbourne (Docklands) | 2000 |
| 3 | David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen | 222 | 5th | Australia | Centurion | 2023 |
| 5 | Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers | 206 | 3rd | Australia | Harare | 2014 |
Travis Head and Marsh have appeared to be in excellent shape heading into the current encounter. As of this writing, Australia has finished 45 overs at 377/2. There hasn’t been a memorable white-ball series for the aggressive left-handed batter. Prior to this match, he had only amassed 59 runs in five innings over three Twenty20 Internationals and two One-Day Internationals. But in the recent encounter in Mackay, Travis Head appeared to be totally at ease.
In relation to captain Marsh, he has already had two pivotal innings in the series: 54 in the third Twenty20 International and 88 in the first One-Day International. The final scores were 18 (second ODI), 22 (second T20I), and 13 (first T20I). Throughout the collaboration, Travis Head has been the aggressor. On the second delivery of the 27th over, he singled towards long-off to reach his eighth ODI century. Travis Head (142 off 103) was caught in the deep by Dewald Brevis with Marsh four runs from his tonne at the other end, ending the partnership.
By winning the first and second ODIs by 98 and 84 runs, respectively, the Proteas have already established an insurmountable advantage in the series. Keshav Maharaj (5/33) and Lungi Ngidi (5/42) each claimed five wickets, helping the Temba Bavuma-led team win the series following a 2-1 defeat in the 20-over leg. After surpassing the 170-run partnership between Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist in 2002, the 250-run partnership between Head and Marsh became the greatest for the first wicket in the ODIs between Australia and South Africa.
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