From the time of Ricky Ponting’s victorious World Cup Class of 2003, the Australians have always enjoyed the quaint university town of Potchefstroom.
And on Wednesday, the tourists saved their best performance of the three-match series for the North West Oval, defeating the Proteas by the Duckworth-Lewis revised margin of 45 runs.
Granted it was a dead rubber after the series had already been signed off following the Proteas’ victory in the Pink ODI last Sunday, and that coach Shukri Conrad made five changes, including resting captain Temba Bavuma for the much-anticipated Test series, but the Aussies would no doubt like to think that if they are to match Ponting and his team’s heroics when the World Cup returns to Africa for the first time in 24 years, the building blocks were laid in the same place as all those years ago.
Taking first strike for the first time in the series after stand-in skipper Aiden Markram inserted the visitors, the Australian openers Mitch Marsh and Travis Head once again raced out of the blocks in belligerent fashion.
They added another 78 in just 8.4 overs to go along with their stands of 90 and 130 across the three matches. Marsh brought up his second consecutive half-century off just 33 balls, striking eight boundaries and two sixes.
Unfortunately, both fell in quick succession, with Corbin Bosch removing Head (24) and left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin accounting for Marsh (56) to leave Australia at 94/2.
And although Cooper Connolly (23) fell shortly afterwards, bowled by Gerald Coetzee, the Australian middle order did not falter after the promising starts like they had in the previous two ODIs.
This was partly due to the 20-year-old Oliver Peak impressing at No 4, and the absence of Australia’s arch-nemesis Keshav Maharaj, with the left-arm spinner also being rested.
Peak compiled a solid 48, but it was the return to form of wicket-keeper/batter Alex Carey (74), who struck his first half-century in over a year, that truly stood out. With Matt Renshaw also contributing a solid 30 and Cameron Green swatting 23, Australia moved to a credible 322/9.
Corbin Bosch was the Proteas’ standout bowler with 4/60, while both seamers Gerald Coetzee (2/61) and Lizaad Williams (2/48) picked up a couple of wickets each.
The Proteas’ chase began in the worst possible fashion with Quinton de Kock caught in the deep for a duck.
Markram struggled to find his rhythm during his 15-ball 16 before being struck on the pads by Xavier Bartlett. It may be a touch concerning that Markram has only faced 16 balls across two innings in the middle heading into next week’s Test series.
Ryan Rickelton did his World Cup aspirations no harm at all with an undefeated 71 (81 balls, 5×4, 2×6), but the same can’t be said about Tristan Stubbs after the right-hander failed for the second consecutive match.
Equally, Matthew Breetzke (25 off 29 balls) would be disappointed that he has not been able to convert two starts after his century in the series opener in Durban last week.
But tellingly, aside from the defeat that came about when the heavens opened with the Proteas on 154/4 after 28 overs, the home side now have another hamstring concern after Tony de Zorzi limped off the field during Australia’s innings and was unable to bat.
De Zorzi is part of the 18-player preliminary Test squad, but his participation in the series, particularly the first Test starting in nine days’ time at Kingsmead, is now doubtful.
