On Saturday, August 22, South Africa defeated Australia by a convincing margin of 84 runs in the second ODI, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. At the Great Barrier Reef Arena
in Mackay, which was hosting its first men’s ODI in 33 years, Lungi Ngidi picked up a five-wicket haul for South Africa in just 8.4 overs, to help them bowl out Australia cheaply and defend the 277-run total successfully.
Earlier, after winning the toss, South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram, who was taking up the role due to rest given to captain Temba Bavuma, won the toss and decided to bat first. But, his decision didn’t turn out to be a good one for Aiden Markram as he lost his wicket without troubling the scorers on the bowling of Xavier Bartlett, who also accounted for his opening partner Ryan Rickelton for eight runs.
Matthew Breetzke, who walked out at number four, steadied the South African innings with a 67-run stand for the third wicket with Tony de Zorzi, who scored 38 off 39 before getting caught and bowled by Adam Zampa. Following that, Breetzke shared an 89-run stand for the fourth wicket with Tristan Stubbs, to put South Africa in ascendancy before getting out to Nathan Ellis on 88 off 78, an innings which had eight fours and two sixes before Tristan Stubbs got to his fifty as well.
With a flurry of wickets in the third and final powerplay, South Africa got bowled out for 277 runs in 49.1 overs shortly after Stubbs’ dismissal on 74 off 87, who hit only three fours and one six in his innings. In pursuit of the 288-run target, Australia lost the massive wicket of Travis Head for six runs to Nandre Burger before it was Lungi Ngidi’s turn, who took his first of the night, sending Marnus Labuschagne back into the pavilion for one run.
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh was dismissed for 18 by Wiaan Mulder, to put the hosts in a tough position at 38/3 before Josh Inglis and Cameron Green shared a 67-run stand for the fourth wicket. The fall of Green’s wicket for 35 off 54 to Senuran Muthusamy led to the Australian innings falling away drastically as wickets started to tumble at his end while Inglis tried to attack his way out of trouble at the other end.
None of the last six batters from Australia went into the 20s, and once Josh Inglis, who got 87 off 74 with 10 fours and two sixes, lost his wicket, the curtain fell on the innings shortly after. In just 37.4 overs, Australia were bowled out for 193 runs with Lungi Ngidi’s figures reading 8.4-1-42-5, including wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, and Adam Zampa.
