Cooper Connolly overtakes Shane Warne with jaw-dropping record during AUS vs SA 3rd ODI

Coming into the third ODI of the three-match series against South Africa, Australia had already lost the series by a 0-2 margin. They decided to turn the tables as their captain, Mitchell Marsh, won the toss and decided to bat first on a surface which looked firm for batting at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. 

Cooper Connolly, during their huge defense of 431 runs against the Proteas in the second innings, bowled superbly at the touring batters, who didn’t have much idea of the spin. Earlier, the top three batters, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green, along with another fifty from Alex Carey, fired the Aussies to 431/2 in their allotted 50 overs in the first innings.

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Connolly’s first wicket of the evening came against Tony de Zorzi, who got out on 33 runs in 30 balls, with the help of six boundaries. The left-handed batter rocked back and pulled the short ball into the hands of Carey at deep mid-wicket as the opponents lost their fifth wicket of the second innings.

Cooper Connolly overtakes Shane Warne to register best bowling record as Australia spinner

Three overs later, Connolly caged the huge wicket of Dewald Brevis for 49 runs in 28 balls with the help of two boundaries and five sixes. The right-handed batter couldn’t exactly get under the bat of the flat delivery. He tried to smash the big shot but couldn’t get the elevation right and found Cameron Green, who was tall enough to stop the ball.

Marnus Labuschagne grabbed a stunning catch as Wiaan Mulder couldn’t believe his luck. The third umpire checked the catch several times before showing the red light. When he stumped out Keshav Maharaj, who used his feet to find himself short of the wicket-keeper, Connolly celebrated his five-wicket haul.

The spinner finished with a fine figure of 5/22 in six overs at an economy rate of 3.70. This is now Australia’s best bowling figure by a spinner in the men’s ODIs, as he went past the late great Shane Warne, who ended with fine figures of 5/33 in the innings.