Australia’s Dominant Consolation Win: Crushing South Africa by 276 Runs in Mackay Thriller
In a stunning display of batting prowess and bowling dominance, Australia salvaged some pride in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) against South Africa at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on August 24, 2025. Despite losing the series 2-1, the hosts delivered a resounding 276-run victory, posting a mammoth 431/2 before skittling the Proteas for a meager 155 in just 24.5 overs. This result not only marked Australia’s second-largest ODI win by runs margin but also highlighted the unpredictable nature of cricket, where a team reeling from back-to-back defeats could unleash such a demolition.
The series had been a tale of South African supremacy up to this point. The visitors, led by Temba Bavuma, arrived in Australia with a point to prove after mixed results in recent tours. They clinched the first ODI in Adelaide by 98 runs, restricting Australia to 198 while chasing down the target comfortably. The second match in Perth followed a similar script, with South Africa winning by 84 runs after posting 193 and bowling out the Aussies for 109. These victories gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead, putting them on the cusp of a historic whitewash on Australian soil—the first time any team would achieve such a feat in ODIs.
However, the third ODI, a day-night affair under the floodlights of Mackay’s picturesque venue, turned the narrative on its head. The Great Barrier Reef Arena, known for its batting-friendly pitches but occasional assistance to seamers under lights, played host to a sell-out crowd eager for redemption. Australia captain Mitchell Marsh, who had lost 22 consecutive tosses where he opted to field first, finally broke the streak by winning the toss and electing to bat. His decision was influenced by the expected dew factor later in the evening, which could make bowling tricky, and the noticeable seam movement observed in practice.
Australia’s Batting Masterclass: Centuries Galore
From the outset, Australia’s openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh looked in ominous form. Head, known for his aggressive style, set the tone with a flurry of boundaries, racing to his fifty in just 40 balls. Marsh, the skipper, complemented him perfectly, mixing caution with calculated aggression. The pair forged a monumental 250-run opening partnership—the fourth-highest in Australia’s ODI history—lasting 34.1 overs. Head reached his century off 80 balls, laced with 17 fours and five sixes, before falling for 142, caught by Dewald Brevis off Keshav Maharaj.
Marsh followed suit, notching his hundred off 105 balls with six fours and five sixes, before being dismissed for 100, caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton off Senuran Muthusamy. By then, the damage was done, with Australia at 267/2 after 36.3 overs. Enter Cameron Green and Alex Carey, who turned the innings into a carnage. Green, batting at No. 3, unleashed a breathtaking assault, smashing his maiden ODI century off just 47 balls—the second-fastest by an Australian, behind only Glenn Maxwell’s 40-ball ton against the Netherlands in 2023. Green’s unbeaten 118 came off 55 balls, featuring six fours and eight sixes, including a hat-trick of maximums off Muthusamy.
Carey, the wicketkeeper-batsman, provided able support with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, hitting seven fours. Their unbroken 164-run third-wicket stand came at a blistering run rate of 12.14, propelling Australia to 431/2—their second-highest ODI total, surpassed only by the 434/4 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006. The innings included 21 extras, with South Africa’s bowlers leaking wides and no-balls amid the onslaught.
South Africa’s bowling unit, already depleted without injured Kagiso Rabada (ankle) and rested Lungi Ngidi, struggled for control. Young seamer Kwena Maphaka, at 19, bore the brunt, conceding 73 runs in six overs without a wicket. Wiaan Mulder was even more expensive, leaking 93 runs in seven overs. Spinner Keshav Maharaj was the pick, claiming 1/57 in his 10 overs, while Muthusamy took 1/75. The Proteas’ fielding was sloppy at times, with dropped catches and misfields adding to their woes.
As the innings progressed, social media buzzed with awe. One X user posted, “Australia’s Thunderous 431 Against South Africa… Centuries from Travis Head (142), Mitchell Marsh (100)!” capturing the excitement. Another highlighted Green’s feat: “Cameron Green smashed the second-fastest ODI century for Australia in the 3rd ODI against South Africa in Mackay.”
Chasing 432 was always a daunting task, but South Africa’s innings unraveled spectacularly under the lights. The Proteas lost early wickets, slumping to 50/4 by the ninth over. Aiden Markram fell for 2, caught by Green off Sean Abbott. Rickelton managed 11 before holing out to Cooper Connolly off George Bartlett. Captain Bavuma chopped on for 7, and Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for 11.
Tony de Zorzi (32) and Dewald Brevis offered brief resistance with a 57-run fifth-wicket stand, but Brevis’ dismissal for 49—caught off Connolly after smashing two sixes off Adam Zampa—triggered the final collapse. Connolly, the 22-year-old debutant spinner, stole the show with figures of 5/22, becoming the youngest Australian to claim an ODI five-wicket haul and posting the best figures by an Aussie spinner since March 2023. His victims included Brevis, whom he dismissed with a fiery send-off mimicking a bow and arrow, drawing attention on social media: “Cooper Connolly dismissed Dewald Brevis just before his fifty, celebrated with a bow and arrow gesture.”
The rest of the lineup crumbled: Wiaan Mulder (7), Corbin Bosch (6), Maharaj (5), and Kwena Maphaka (1). South Africa were all out for 155 in 24.5 overs, with extras contributing 7. Australia’s bowlers shared the spoils: Bartlett took 2/33, Abbott 1/27, Zampa 1/38, and Green 1/11. Spectacular catches, including two by Marnus Labuschagne, aided the effort.
Travis Head was adjudged Player of the Match for his explosive 142, while Keshav Maharaj earned Player of the Series honors with 6 wickets and 37 runs across the three games. Marsh reflected on the win: “It was a great way to finish the series. The boys showed what we’re capable of.” Bavuma, gracious in defeat, admitted: “We were outplayed today, but proud of the series win.”
The match drew widespread acclaim online. One post summarized: “Australia produced a record-shattering performance… crushing South Africa by 276 runs to hand the Proteas their heaviest defeat in ODI history.” Another noted: “Cooper Connolly took 5-22 as Australia avoided a 3-0 series sweep.”
This encounter underscored Australia’s depth, with young talents like Green and Connolly shining brightly. For South Africa, the series victory boosts their confidence ahead of future challenges, but the Mackay mauling serves as a reminder of cricket’s volatility. As the teams look ahead to Test series and World Cups, this ODI will be remembered as a day when Australia roared back with vengeance.
