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Published : 24 Aug 2025, 03:17 PM
A 250-run opening partnership between centurions Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh and an incendiary hundred by Cameron Green powered Australia to a mammoth 431-2 in the third and final one day international against South Africa on Sunday.
It rained 18 sixes in the Australian innings as the hosts, seeking a consolation win after losing the first two matches, posted their second-highest total ODIs - behind 434 against the same opposition in 2006.
Electing to bat, Australia openers Head (142) and skipper Marsh (100) milked 63 runs from the first six powerplay overs to signal their intentions.
With Kagiso Rabada missing the entire series with an injury and Lungi Ngidi rested for the final ODI, South Africa's pace attack lacked the usual firepower.
With Head going hammer and tongs after the South African bowlers, Australia raced to the 100-mark in the 13th over.
Head raced to an 80-ball hundred, taking a single off spinner Senuran Muthusamy to reach the milestone, and the opening stand touched the 200-mark in the 28th over.
Australia reached 250 in the 34th over and immediately lost Head, who holed out against spinner Keshav Maharaj. Head's 103-ball blitz included 17 fours and five sixes.
Marsh, who also hit five sixes, duly brought up his hundred but fell soon after fluffing his slog-sweep against Muthusamy.
There was no respite for South Africa though as they found themselves at the receiving end of Green's sensational power-hitting.
The strapping all-rounder raced to a 47-ball hundred, his maiden and the second fastest by an Australian in an ODI, and blasted eight sixes in his unbeaten 118 off just 55 balls.
Alex Carey made 50 not out as each of Australia's top four batters scored 50 or more.
Australia had won the preceding T20 series between the sides 2-1.
