South Africa clinched their maiden victory in the five-match One Day International series against Australia, winning by a substantial margin of 111 runs at the JB Marks Oval. This triumph was orchestrated by Aiden Markram's stellar century and a commendable spin attack.
Markram's brilliant innings saw him amass an unbeaten 102 runs, single-handedly propelling the hosts to a commanding total of 338-6, despite being asked to bat first. In response, Australia faltered, managing just 227 runs and getting bowled out with a considerable 15 overs left unused.
South Africa's spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi proved instrumental in curbing Australia's brisk batting response, both contributing with two wickets each. However, the home team enjoyed a stroke of luck when David Warner was run out, and Tim David was dismissed after a contentious catch decision.
Markram, who reached his second One Day International century, also had a stroke of fortune when he was dropped in the outfield when he was 95, allowing him to reach the coveted three-figure milestone.
Markram's century was pivotal as South Africa's innings had hit a rough patch earlier on. They began their batting innings aggressively, with openers Quinton de Kock and captain Temba Bavuma forging a formidable partnership of 146 runs. De Kock played a notable innings, amassing 82 runs before falling victim to Travis Head's offspin.
Subsequently, Bavuma also departed, having contributed 57 runs, and South Africa's run rate saw a noticeable dip as Australia's bowlers gained the upper hand. The home team found themselves in a precarious position at 244-5 when David Miller was dismissed in the 42nd over. However, Markram's resilient and power-packed performance in the final overs ensured South Africa set a formidable target.
Australia's response seemed formidable initially, with David Warner and Travis Head aggressively taking on the bowlers. After ten overs, they had already accumulated 104 runs. However, the game's turning point occurred when Warner lost his shoe and was run out by Keshav Maharaj's precise throw, despite a desperate dive.
The match continued to sway in South Africa's favor as Marnus Labuschagne, who had been the star performer in the previous two ODIs, was stumped off Tabraiz Shamsi's delivery, managing only 15 runs. A contentious catch decision involving Tim David added to Australia's woes, with television replays providing little clarity.
Seamer George Coetzee stepped up for South Africa, mopping up the Australian tail and concluding with impressive figures of 4-50.
The series now heads to Pretoria for the next encounter, with the final game set to take place at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.
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