South Africa recorded their fifth successive ODI bilateral series win against Australia, after winning the second game of the three-match ODI series in Australia by 84 runs. 

Visitors South Africa were already leading the ODI series by 1-0 before the second ODI at Mackay after winning the series opener by 98 runs. While captain Temba Bavuma was rested for the second ODI, Aiden Markram led the Proteas side in the second game, where the visitors chose to bat first. After South Africa were all out for 277 runs in 49.1 overs, they bowled out the hosts for 193 runs in 37.4 overs. 

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Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs guided the team to a strong total with solid knocks

Both the South African openers, Ryan Rickelton (8) and skipper Aiden Markram (0), were dismissed in the single-digit scores. However, the next three Proteas batters controlled the innings strongly. While Tony de Zorzi scored 38 off 39 balls (five fours), he had a 67-run partnership with Matthew Breetzke for the third wicket.

Then Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs had an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket. While Breetzke smashed 88 off 78 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, Stubbs scored 74 off 87 balls (three fours and one six) before getting out in the 44th over.

Wiaan Mulder (26) and Keshav Maharaj (22) played two crucial cameos in the innings, which helped the Proteas to set a challenging total. 

Among the Australian bowlers, Adam Zampa (3/63) picked up three wickets, while Xavier Bartlett (2/45), Nathan Ellis (2/46), and Marnus Labuschagne (2/19) bagged two wickets each. Also, the pacer Josh Hazlewood (1/57) took one wicket.

Lungi Ngidi claimed five-wicket haul

In reply, Australia got a poor start and never managed to come up to the challenging position. At the end of the first powerplay, the hosts scored 39/3 in 10 overs. Only Cameron Green and Josh Inglis produced some fightback, as they were the only batters to reach the 20-run mark in that innings. Green scored 35 off 54 balls (three fours), while Inglis scored 87 off 74 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. They had a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but once their partnership was broken, the hosts couldn’t handle the late pressure. 

South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi recorded his second ODI fifer with the bowling figures of 8.4-1-42-5. Also, Nandre Burger (2/23) and Senuran Muthusamy (2/30) both picked up two wickets each.