DURBAN, South Africa : Australia let two strong positions slip in the first one-day international against South Africa on Thursday, suffering a 67-run defeat despite making a promising start with bat and ball.
Australia had South Africa under pressure early in their innings but allowed the hosts to recover and post 297-8 in their 50 overs.
Australia then raced to 90 without loss from 9.2 overs in reply, but lost their remaining 10 wickets for 140 runs as South Africa secured victory.
South Africa’s recent record against Australia has been strong, with Australia winning five of their 24 ODI meetings since September 2016 and losing 18, while one match was abandoned.
“They (South Africa) got 100 runs off the last 10 overs,” Australia captain Mitch Marsh said.
“They like to build in their 50 overs and then go hard in the last 10 or 15. We pushed to try and get an extra couple of wickets (to prevent that), but it didn’t go our way.”
Marsh led Australia’s reply with 60 from 36 balls before he was dismissed by spinner Keshav Maharaj, who finished with 4-20.
Australia struggled to build partnerships after Marsh’s dismissal, with Maharaj and Bevan Fortuin controlling the middle overs.
“We knew with (Keshav) Maharaj and (spinner Bevan) Fortuin, it was going to be key the way we played them. Unfortunately they were able to execute well for long periods of time,” Marsh said.
The three-match series also provides Australia with experience ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, with the second ODI scheduled for Johannesburg on Sunday.
