09/27/26 12:59:00
Printable Page
09/27 12:57 CDT Miller and Bavuma tons earn South Africa 32-run win in 2nd ODI
vs Australia to win cricket series
Miller and Bavuma tons earn South Africa 32-run win in 2nd ODI vs Australia to
win cricket series
JOHANNESBURG (AP) --- David Miller and Temba Bavuma smashed centuries for South
Africa as Australia once again was exposed against spinners to lose the second
cricket ODI by 32 runs on Sunday.
South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Miller hit a belligerent 142 runs off 93 balls to notch his eighth ODI hundred
and Bavuma scored 103, his sixth century in the 50-over ODI format, as South
Africa finished at an impressive 365-9.
Australia's Jack Edwards, playing in only his second ODI, grabbed 5-67 and Josh
Hazlewood, who dismissed Aiden Markram off the first ball for a golden duck,
took 3-70, also in 10 overs.
Australia, which preferred to chase for the second straight game after winning
the toss, was 333 all out in the final over.
Sunday's game marked the annual Pink Day fixture, which raises money for cancer
research and treatment. Miller wore the name of his mother Jenny, a breast
cancer survivor, on the back of his jersey.
Australia, which hasn't won a bilateral ODI series against South Africa since
2014, will look for a consolation win in the last game on Wednesday.
"Another good allround team performance," Bavuma said. "Unbelievable innings by
David and then the bowlers as well ... there was a lot more spin than was
expected. The way the spin complemented our attack it was great."
Australia wastes great start
Just like in the Durban opener, where Australia lost by 67 runs, the visitors
squandered a rollicking start to the chase by captain Mitchell Marsh (84) and
Travis Head (84) .
The pair combined in a 130-run opening stand in 17 overs before Australia
struggled against Keshav Maharaj (2-54) and Markram (1-55) with captain Bavuma
fully utilizing the 30 overs of spin option.
Maharaj trapped Alex Carey for 17 and Matt Renshaw for 32 - both
leg-before-wicket dismissals --- and Cameron Green fell for 17 while attempting
a big hit against Bjorn Fortuin.
"Really disappointing," Marsh said. "Fair play to South Africa. I thought they
played really well, outplayed us again ... We haven't been able to execute in
those middle phases which is a great learning curve for our players and full
credit to South Africa for how they've bowled through those periods."
Xavier Bartlett (50 off 28) gave a late counterpunch in the death overs to
reduce the margin of defeat and damage the figures of third spinner Fortuin
(2-70), who was smacked for 19 runs in his last over.
Miller and Bavuma set up big total
Miller smashed 12 fours and nine sixes while Bavuma struck 10 fours and two
sixes.
Hazlewood's twin strikes left South Africa at 36-2 in seven overs before
Matthew Breetzke (34) and Bavuma shared a 57-run stand.
But it was the 156-run partnership between Bavuma and Miller which changed the
course of South Africa innings with Bavuma's imperious drives and Miller
striking big hits time and again to loose balls.
Australia, which went into the game with Josh Inglis ruled out of the ODI
series due to a fractured finger, suffered another injury blow when its main
strike bowler Nathan Ellis had to leave the field after bowling just four overs
due to side strain.
___
See AP's full cricket coverage here
|