Warner, Labuschagne centuries give Australia 2-0 lead

Australia registered their fifth win in five games on their white-ball tour of South Africa, completing an emphatic 123-run victory over the Proteas in the second ODI in Bloemfontein. Centuries from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne powered Australia to their third-highest ODI total in history before four wickets from Adam Zampa buried the hosts in the chase, lifting Mithcell Marsh’s side to another comprehensive win.

On a surface vastly different to the one witnessed in the first ODI, Australia flexed their batting muscle after being sent in by Temba Bavuma. Travis Head and David Warner displayed their aggression from the outset as the pair added the highest powerplay score in ODIs in South Africa, racing away to 102 in ten overs. Head blazed his way to a 26-ball half-century as he punished any loose deliveries from the South African speedsters to give Australia a promising platform.

The hosts received some respite when Shamsi finally broke the 109-run stand. David Miller took an excellent catch at mid-on to remove Head, and Shamsi made it two in two a ball later as Mitchell Marsh missed a reverse sweep from the wrist-spinner to depart for a golden duck. However, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne ensured the visitors cashed in on their strong start by adding 151 for the third wicket.

Warner cruised to his 20th ODI ton and fifth against South Africa, getting to the landmark in a 16-run over from Shamsi. Labuschagne, meanwhile, picked up from where he left off during his substitute appearance in the first ODI, bringing up his second successive half-century in 54 balls before accelerating to add his next 50 off just 26 balls. Labuschagne’s second ODI ton and a quickfire half-century from Josh Inglis propelled Australia to a commanding first innings score of 392/8.

Echoing back to their world record chase of 434 16 years ago, the Proteas got off to a strong start in their reply. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma carted 81 runs off the first nine overs to get the ball rolling for South Africa. However, the left-hander departed in the final over of the powerplay, with Nathan Ellis taking a stunning return catch to break the opening stand.

Adam Zampa pegged the hosts back further by dismissing Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram in quick succession, while Rassie van der Dussen was cleaned up by the debutant Aaron Hardie to reduce South Africa to 119/4. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen staged a brief challenge, but Zampa returned to pocket the wicket-keeper before the Proteas lost their final five wickets for just 28 runs to slump to a 123-run defeat.