Australia\u2019s world champions have been found wanting again, falling well short in a chase for the second time in four days as South Africa prevailed by 32 runs in Johannesburg to seal the three-match ODI series triumph.<\/p>\n
As a reconnaissance mission for their World Cup defence in southern Africa in a year\u2019s time, Sunday\u2019s loss felt like another alarming capitulation after a fine start to their pursuit of a big Proteas\u2019 total was wasted, just as on Thursday in the first-match collapse at Durban. <\/p>\n
Chasing South Africa\u2019s formidable 9-365, which featured superb hundreds from captain Temba Bavuma and the ever reliable David Miller, Australia\u2019s stand-in skipper Mitch Marsh and Travis Head, who\u2019d teed off with a brisk 90 together in Durban, this time clattered 130 off 17 overs at the Wanderers. <\/p>\n
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n But the same old failings of cheap dismissals and inability to build partnerships came back to haunt the visitors, with not even a rousing late show of defiance from Xavier Bartlett, with a thumping 50 off 28 balls, able to get them to within a sniff of the target as they succumbed to 333 all out with one ball remaining. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
<\/p>\n After losing a second-straight match in which they\u2019d won the toss and inserted the Proteas, Australia, who again kept captain Pat Cummins on ice with the Test series around the corner, were left with further big concerns over their middle-order stuttering in the face of quality spin.
<\/p>\n \u201cReally disappointing \u2014 we came here to ensure the series went to the last game but, fair play to South Africa, ultimately we\u2019ve been outplayed again,\u201d sighed Marsh.<\/p>\n \u201cIn both games, the way we\u2019ve set up the innings has been really good but we just haven\u2019t been able to execute in those middle phases.\u201d
<\/p>\n With a third match to come in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, Marsh shrugged: \u201cWe\u2019ve got to keep improving, we don\u2019t want to be whitewashed.\u201d
<\/p>\n Cummins was unquestionably missed and a side injury that ensured their outstanding quick Nathan Ellis could bowl only four overs on Sunday meant their attack was always under pressure, even if Jack Edwards offered genuine allround promise with his 5-67 and a solid knock of 25 in support of Bartlett.\u00a0
<\/p>\n Josh Hazlewood took three wickets while going at seven an over, but more alarming was Adam Zampa\u2019s continuing struggle, as he went for 0-77 off his 10 overs, in stark contrast to South Africa\u2019s excellent spin trio of Keshav Maharaj (2-54), Bjorn Fortuin (2-70) and Aiden Markram (1-55).
<\/p>\n They helped really put the brakes on Australia chase after Marsh and Head had cracked 84 apiece, the captain\u2019s knock featuring five sixes and 10 fours off 53 balls and Head\u2019s start coming off 103 balls, with one six and 12 fours.\u00a0
<\/p>\n Apart from the openers, though, Australia were soon struggling, Cooper Connolly chipping one tamely off Lizaad Williams (3-54) to short midwicket to depart for 10 and wicketkeeper Alex Carey trapped lbw by Maharaj, who then did the same to dismiss Matt Renshaw for 32.
<\/p>\n Diminutive South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on his way to a superb hundred. (AP PHOTO)
<\/p>\n Cameron Green had a struggle, limping to 17 off 34 balls, before Bartlett showed him the way belatedly with his five mighty sixes, only for his innings, and Australia\u2019s last hope, to be ended by a cracking leg-before yorker from Williams.\u00a0
<\/p>\n Earlier, though, South Africa had got the Bullring buzzing as man-of-the-match Miller smashed nine sixes on his way to 142 off 93 balls, while Bavuma hit 103 off 116, the pair sharing in a superb fourth-wicket stand of 156.
<\/p>\n Edwards had gone wicketless in his ODI debut on Thursday, but proved the pick of the bowlers, getting rid of both centurions, leaving Marsh to concede there was reason to think the future was bright.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n AFL flag hero\u2019s dad tackled by security after jumping fence<\/p>\n 1 min read<\/p>\n