
South Africa power to ODI series win as AustraliaâÂÂs middle order struggles again
Bavuma and Miller smash centuries in second ODI
Australia batters fall 32 runs short despite strong start
Temba Bavuma and David Miller both struck centuries as South Africa defeated Australia by 32 runs in the â second one-day international in Johannesburg, securing victory in the three-match series with a game to spare.
Australia sent their hosts in to bat and South â Africa amassed 365 for â nine in their âÂÂ50 overs, before bowling the visitors out for 333 in 49.5 overs to win a high-scoring encounter. The Proteas continued their recent dominance over their rivals with a 19th ODI â win in their last 25 meetings.
The visitors were again undone by spin in the middle of the innings after a fast start to their reply as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 series lead. Australia were not â helped by the continued absence of seamer Pat Cummins, and a side strain suffered by Nathan Ellis âÂÂin the match that meant he bowled âÂÂonly four overs.
âÂÂItâÂÂs really disappointing,â âÂÂthe Australia captain Mitch Marsh said. âÂÂWe came here determined to level the series at 1-1 and take it âÂÂinto the final game, but fair play to South Africa. I thought they played really well and outplayed us again.
âÂÂWe just want to keep improving,â Marsh added. âÂÂWe certainly donâÂÂt want to be whitewashed, so weâÂÂll go to Potchefstroom determined to win that final game and play some good cricket.âÂÂ
Bavuma scored his 103 from 116 balls for his sixth ODI century while Miller was more explosive. He smashed âÂÂnine sixes in his 142 from 93 balls, clearing the ropes with ease as he struck his career-best score and eighth ODI ton. Matthew Breetzke added 34 off 28 balls, with Duan Jansen ending on 27 not out.

Jack Edwards, playing in his âÂÂsecond ODI, was the pick of the Australia bowlers with five for 67 in 10 overs, including the wickets of Bavuma and Miller. Josh Hazlewood had earlier dismissed openers Aiden Markram (for a duck) and Quinton de Kock (15).
In a carbon copy of ThursdayâÂÂs 67-run win for South Africa in Durban, Australia made a lightning start to their reply. Marsh (84 from 53 balls) and Travis Head (84 from 76 balls) put on 130 in 17 overs for the â first wicket, but the middle order struggled and South AfricaâÂÂs three spinners tightened the âÂÂscrew.
Keshav Maharaj (2-54), Bjorn Fortuin (2-70) and âÂÂMarkram (1-55) were all effective in âÂÂtheir 10 overs. Markram dislodged Head lbw before Maharaj removed Alex Carey (17) and Matt Renshaw (32), both lbw. Xavier Bartlett kept Australia in the game with a fine 50 runs âÂÂfrom 28 deliveries but ran out of support.
From âÂÂthe 30th over to the 40th, Australia managed 37 runs in Durban and just âÂÂ35 on an excellent batting wicket in Johannesburg. âÂÂItâÂÂs certainly an area where we need to improve and weâÂÂre well aware of that,â Marsh said.
âÂÂI thought we set up our innings really well in both games but we havenâÂÂt been able to execute during those middle phases. ItâÂÂs a âÂÂgreat learning curve, especially for some of our younger players. But you also have to give South Africa full credit âÂÂfor the way theyâÂÂve bowled during those periods.âÂÂ
âÂÂIt was âÂÂanother really good âÂÂall-round team performance,â the Proteas captain Bavuma âÂÂsaid. âÂÂIt started with the bat. Conditions were a little tricky up front but we managed to get through that period and build towards a good total. David [Miller] played an unbelievable innings and then the bowlers did their job as well.âÂÂ
The final match of the white-ball series is in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, before a three-Test series begins in Durban on 9 October.
