Bavuma, Miller inspire Pink Day triumph

Temba Bavuma and David Miller scored contrasting centuries while spinners Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin shone again for South Africa as they clinched a series-winning victory by 32-runs in the second one-day international against Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The hosts posted a daunting total of 365-9 on the back of Bavuma’s 103 and Miller’s career-best 142 before left arm spinners Maharaj (2-54) and Fortuin (2-70) claimed two wickets apiece to restrict the tourists to 333 all out in reply despite another rampaging start from openers Mitch Marsh and Travis Head who both scored 84.

At 130 without loss in the 17th over the Australians were once again in a strong position to challenge but, unlike in Durban, the total was well beyond them. Fortuin made the initial breakthrough bowling Marsh off his pads for 84 from just 53 balls (10x4, 5x6) before Head was trapped lbw by Aiden Markram who returned an outstanding analysis of 10-0-55-1 with his off-spin.

Maharaj snuffed out further potential threats trapping Alex Carey (17) and Matt Renshaw (32) lbw and Marco Jansen finally made the game safe with two wickets in two balls in the 47th over starting with a sliding boundary catch from Matthew Breetzke to remove Jack Edwards for 25.

Earlier captain Bavuma pulled Josh Hazlewood for an early six but was forced to consolidate at 36-2 after openers Markram (0) and Quinton de Kock (15) were dismissed inside the first seven overs but Miller, who came to the crease at 93-3 in the 16th over, was in rampant form from the start and stormed to a career-best 142 from just 93 balls.

Bavuma sliced a drive against seamer Edwards to cover shortly after completing his sixth ODI century, 103 from 116 balls with ten fours and two sixes following a fourth-wicket partnership of 156 with Miller but his job was more than done with the platform laid for a daunting total.

Miller pulled and drove a brace of sixes each against part-time spinner Renshaw (3-0-29-0), seamer Xavier Bartlett (1-70) and Edwards who had the considerable consolation of claiming 5-67 in his 10 overs, his maiden five-fer in List A cricket.

Miller’s stunning innings, which included a dozen fours and nine sixes, finally ended with a toe-ended cut against a wide delivery from Edwards but the fun continued with the arrival of the Jansen twins, Marco smacking a four and two sixes in his 19 from 15 balls and Duan finishing unbeaten on 27 from 18 deliveries with four boundaries.

Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets at a cost of 70 in his ten overs but it was a chastening day for experienced legspinner Adam Zampa whose wicketless nine overs cost 77 runs with Australia’s attack compromised by a side-strain to Nathan Elliss which limited him to just four overs.

Earlier Markram popped a catch to cover from the first ball of the innings while de Kock, having pulled Hazlewood for a pair of sixes, offered the first of five catches to ‘keeper Carey off the same bowler before Breetzke steadied the innings with a nonetheless brisk 34 from 28 balls with six stylish fours.

The third and final math of the series is a day-night match at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday beginning at 1:30pm.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wkt), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Duan Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams.

AUSTRALIA: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey (wkt), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.