At the second one-day international match between Australia and South Africa, which took place on Saturday at the Mangaung Oval, both David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne scored centuries, which laid the stage for Australia’s decisive victory by 123 runs.
Warner scored 106 runs, while Labuschagne scored 124, contributing to an overall score of 392 for eight for Australia after the tourists were sent in.
South Africa was bowled out for a score of 269 in the 42nd over thanks to leg-spinner Adam Zampa’s four wickets for 48 runs.
Quinton de Kock scored 45 runs and Temba Bavuma scored 46 runs within the first nine overs of South Africa’s innings before being caught and bowled by Nathan Ellis. This allowed South Africa to get off to a fast start.
Zampa struck twice in consecutive overs to dismiss Bavuma and Aiden Markram, and although Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller both making 49, South Africa was unable to create a meaningful challenge.
“Our intent and execution tonight was as good as it gets,” said Mitchell Marsh, the captain of the Australian team.
During the opening partnership of 109 runs off 72 balls, Warner and Travis Head dominated the quick bowlers from South Africa. Head smashed 64 runs off 36 balls with nine fours and three sixes for a total of 109 runs. Warner scored 58 runs.
The wickets of Head and Marsh off successive deliveries by the left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi provided South Africa with a little reprieve.
But Labuschagne followed up his match-winning 80 not out in the first match at the same venue on Thursday – when he came into the lineup as a concussion substitute for Cameron Green – with another effort that earned him player of the match honors in this game as well.
“Not something I can change”
The partnership between Warner and Labuschagne for the third wicket scored 151 runs off 124 balls, with Warner reaching his 20th one-day international century off 85 deliveries.
Even more impressive was Labuschagne’s speed, as he reached his second one-day international century off of just 80 balls.
Both of his hundreds were accomplished in the nation in which he was born. In March of 2020 in Potchefstroom, he scored 108 points.
“The boys at the top got us off to a lightning start and put pressure on the bowlers,” said Labuschagne, who added that the fact that he had not been selected for the World Cup was “not in my control – I am concentrating on enjoying my cricket and playing as well as I can.” Labuschagne stated that he was focusing on having fun with cricket and performing as well as he possibly could.
It was the third-highest total scored by Australia in the 50-over format, and it was the fourth-highest total that South Africa had allowed.
“They were on top of us from ball one,” Bavuma said, referring to the beginning of the match.