As Australia defeated South Africa by a margin of three wickets in the first one-day international in Bloemfontein, captain Temba Bavuma magnificent unbeaten century was rendered ineffective by Marnus Labuschagne’s brilliant unbeaten 80 off 93 and Ashton Agar’s highest score of 48*. After winning the T20I series 3-0 (3), the Australians now have a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and have maintained their dominance on the tour.
Mitchell Marsh, the captain, said that after winning the toss, he decided to field first. Quinton de Kock, a wicketkeeper, managed just 11 points while Rassie van der Dussen was out for eight. While Skipper Bavuma held the other end and led his side from the front, the wickets kept dropping. Marco Jansen, who scored 32 runs off of 40 pitches, provided some assistance for him.
Temba Bavuma scored 114* off 142 balls while hitting 14 fours and a six; as a result of his knock, the home team was able to score 222 runs in just 49 overs. In response, Travis Head was out for 33 while David Warner scored a duck. Australia’s middle order woefully faltered, and Labuschagne and Agar came to their side’s aid admirably. As the visitors won in the 41st over, the pair put together an unbroken 112-run eighth-wicket stand. Labuschagne received the Player of the Match honor for his superb fifty.
Australia vs South Africa
114* – Temba Bavuma registered his second-best score of 114* in ODIs. His highest score of 144 came against West Indies this year.
3 – Bavuma has now smashed the most centuries (three) by a captain in ODIs in 2023. Babar Azam and Shai Hope have struck two hundreds each.
106.80 – Bavuma has racked up 534 runs in just seven innings at a staggering average of 106.80 with three tons and one fifty in the 50-overs format in 2023.
80* – Marnus Labuschagne also achieved his second-best score of 80* in ODI cricket. His highest score of 108 also came against the same opposition in the year 2020.
112* – Labuschagne and Ashton Agar recorded the second-highest eighth-wicket partnership for Australia in ODI cricket. Paul Reifel and Shane Warne are on top for sharing a 119-run stand against the Proteas in the year 1994.
117 – Quinton de Kock has managed to score only 117 runs at an average of just 16.71 in his last seven innings against Australia.
259 – Bavuma has amassed 259 runs in three innings at a solid average of 129.50 with two centuries in one-day internationals in Bloemfontein.
48* – Agar recorded his highest score of 48* in ODIs. His previous best of 46 came against England in 2018.
1 – Labuschagne and Agar scripted the highest eighth wicket stand in Bloemfontein. They surpassed Sean Ervine and Heath Streak’s stand of 78* against New Zealand in the World Cup 2003.
3 – Captain Bavuma is now also joint-top with Fakhar Zaman, Shubman Gill, and Sean Williams for slamming three tons in the format this year.
2 – Skipper Bavuma also equalled Colin Ingram and Sanath Jayasuriya at the top for hitting two centuries in Bloemfontein.
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