South Africa pulled off a series triumph on Sunday by winning the fifth and final One Day International against Australia by 122 runs at the Wanderers thanks to an outstanding performance from all-rounder Marco Jansen with both bat and ball.
After being put in to bat first, South Africa overcame a sluggish start to set a difficult mark of 315-9 thanks to Jansen’s 47 runs off 23 balls.
The visitors were bowled for 193 in 34.1 overs as he went on to get his best-ever ODI score of 5-39 from eight overs.
South Africa had lost the first two games of the series but had won three straight to improve their confidence ahead of the World Cup in India next month. This result clinched a 3-2 series triumph for them.
With the new ball sailing around early in the thin Highveld air, South Africa struggled to get opener Quinton de Kock out cheaply in his last home innings. De Kock has declared his retirement from ODIs after the World Cup. Two days earlier, Heinrich Klaassen had struck all corners against Adam Zampa, who then bowled him out for six. Klaassen had scored 174 on Friday.
However, South Africa got to work bowling, as Aiden Markram and David Miller put up 109 runs in 107 balls for the fifth wicket. Tim David, a part-time player, then broke the partnership with the first delivery in ODI cricket. Seven runs shy of a century, Markram top-edged him to Michael Neser, who had dropped him previously on 81, at deep square leg.
Jansen and David Miller then carried on the attack, with Miller scoring 63 runs. Andile Phehlukwayo also made a late appearance, hitting three sixes in the last over to help South Africa surpass 300 runs.
Australia started their reply with no holds barred, continuing the aggressive strategy that has characterized the series, but Jansen applied the brakes by taking two wickets in the fourth over, removing Josh Inglis and David Warner.
Australia maintained a significant lead over the necessary run rate thanks to a partnership of 90 runs for the third wicket between captain Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne. However, a potentially game-winning partnership came to an end when Marsh was caught on the third man boundary off Jansen for 71.
After that, the enormous bowler got rid of Labuschagne (44) and Alex Carey (2). Spinner Keshav Maharaj then ended any opposition by taking three wickets of his own.