Australian centurion top-orders rewrite rare ODI record

In the third and final ODI of the home series against South Africa, the Australian top-order batters thrashed all the Proteas bowlers to manage the first innings total of 431/2 in 50 overs. During that unforgettable innings, the Australian centurion top-order batters rewrote the rare ODI record.

While Australia have already lost the series, as the visitors are leading the series by 2-0 before the last game of the ODI series at Mackay, the hosts captain Mitchell Marsh chose to bat first in the last ODI. 

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green scored centuries for Australia

Australian openers Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh smashed a 250-run partnership for the first wicket, which was Australia's fifth-highest opening partnership and the highest opening partnership for any team against South Africa. Head completed his seventh ODI century in 80 balls, and Marsh recorded his fourth ODI century in 105 balls. 

With the help of 17 fours and five sixes, Head scored 142 runs off 103 balls. Meanwhile, skipper Marsh scored 100 off 106 balls with the help of six fours and five sixes. 

For the unbroken third wicket, Cameron Green and Alex Carey slammed a 164-run partnership from just 82 balls. Green slammed his maiden ODI century in just 47 balls to record the second-fastest ODI century by an Australian cricketer. He scored 118 not out off 55 balls, where the right-handed batter slammed six fours and eight sixes. On the other hand, Carey scored 50 not out off 37 balls with seven fours. 

[WATCH] Stunning crowd catch of Mitchell Marsh during AUS vs SA 3rd ODI as video goes viral

All three top batters scored centuries in an ODI innings

It was the second time in ODI history that all the top three batters scored centuries in an ODI innings. The first such incident happened during the 2015 Johannesburg ODI, when the top three South African batters created history for the first time against the West Indies. After openers Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw scored 153 not out and 128 runs, skipper AB de Villiers slammed the fastest ODI hundred and scored 149 runs in just 44 balls. 

While all the top four Aussie batters scored 50 or more runs in the innings, it was the 23rd time in ODI history that experienced all four top batters with 50+ runs in the same ODI innings.