South Africa and Australia squared off in the second ODI of a five-match series in Bloemfontein on Saturday, September 09. The Aussies were invited to bat first, and the left-handed duo of Travis Head and David Warner got them off to a flying start. The former was the first to be dismissed after making a sensational 36-ball 64, with the score at 109/1 in 11.5 overs. Shamsi was the wicket-taker on that occasion. The left-arm wrist spinner struck off the very next ball as he sent Australia captain Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion for a golden duck.
Following this little fightback from the Proteas, Warner stitched a belligerent 151-run partnership alongside Marnus Labuschagne. Both players scored their centuries as Australia were placed at 260/2 in 32.3 overs. From this point onwards, Temba Bavuma and Co. showed great fighting spirit as they conceded just 132 runs in the remaining 18.3 overs. However, Australia still had a huge total of 392/8 on the board at the end of fifty overs. Josh Inglis’ 37-ball 50 also helped the visitors’ effort. Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4/61 in 10 overs when others around him were being taken to the cleaners.
In reply, the Proteas got off to a great start as Quinton de Kock and Bavuma helped them reach 81 in just nine overs. However, both openers threw away their starts and were dismissed in their 40s. Aiden Markram also departed for three, and Rassie van der Dussen also couldn’t get going.
Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller started a resurgence with a swashbuckling partnership where the former was the wrecker in chief. However, the wicketkeeper batter departed for an entertaining 36-ball 49, and the onus was on Miller to take his team to an improbable win. The southpaw struggled to find his flow, but a boundary now and then helped him to maintain a strike rate of close to 100. He formed a 64-run partnership alongside Marco Jansen, but the two perished with a score of 241. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje delayed the inevitable, but the visitors eventually registered a thumping 123-run win after dismissing the opposition for 269 inside 42 overs.
Adam Zampa was the star of the show as he picked up four wickets in nine overs and gave away just 48 runs. Nathan Ellis also bowled brilliantly and picked up two wickets for 32 runs in eight overs. Four South African batters lost their wickets in their 40s, and that hurt them badly. With three more ODIs left in the series, the home side have no other option but to win all of them, as Australia have taken a daunting 2-0 lead.
Let’s take a look at how ‘X’ users reacted to Australia’s crushing victory
#SAvAUS looks like SA team is not coming up together players are playing their game they are missing a fire within themselves
— Hashmat Ranjha (@hashmatraheem) September 9, 2023
😭 https://t.co/9suDbcpKEc
— The Wrong Uso Quit (@LadyCharlotte01) September 9, 2023
Australia is hinting that they will attack from ball 1 in #WC2023 👀🔥#SAvAUS
— Sarmad MALIK🇵🇰 (@sarmadaadeez) September 9, 2023
Enough time has passed
Rabada > Markram#SAvAUS
— The Wrong Uso Quit (@LadyCharlotte01) September 9, 2023
3 wkts in as many overs for Aus by Zampa x Hardie! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Looks like the games in the bag. 😁 #SAvAUS
— Sarah (@SarahShah_85) September 9, 2023
Rabada has played that Stand-and-Deliver Straight shot to perfection so many times but this time he’s cleared the Ropes with ease for a 6⃣#SAvAUS #AUSvSA
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) September 9, 2023
Losing to Australia #SAvAUS is always bitter 🤧🚮… Proteas though!!
— Menzi ka Zwide (@Menzi__Nxumalo) September 9, 2023
Australia is playing this match with only 3 specialist bowlers 😂😂😂😂 #SAvAUS
— Mubashar Jahangir 🇵🇰 (@LFC__CA) September 9, 2023
Ellis’s blistering pace had crashed the Pad and Miller’s Party.
SA is 6 down now.
It is not an issue but the Wickets in hand are.
SA requires 152 runs more in 14 overs now. #CWC23 #SAvAUS #Australia
— CricPedia (@Parchiking) September 9, 2023
Can somebody explain to me why Australia did not pick Nathan Ellis in Australia’s #CWC23 squad ?
— Himanshu (@himmyrao23) September 9, 2023
Nathan Ellis has been absolutely superb the best bowler of the day by miles
— Hazim (@hazim_ajk) September 9, 2023
Aiden Markram and KL Rahul are in a neck-and-neck race to claim the title of ‘biggest underachiever’ in terms of potential and team contribution.
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) September 9, 2023
Aiden Markram is KL Rahul of South Africa !!#SAvsAUS
— Gss🇮🇳 (@Gss_Views) September 9, 2023
They say not easy to survive , I meant Aiden Markram . #SAvsAUS
— Rajneesh Singh (@elirajneesh) September 9, 2023