South Africa Clinches ODI Series Over Australia with Dominant Win
South Africa delivered a commanding performance to seal the South Africa vs Australia ODI Series 2025 with an emphatic 84-run win in the second One Day International (ODI) played in Mackay. The Proteas’ victory was anchored by an outstanding 88-run knock from opener Matthew Breetzke and a five-wicket burst by fast bowler Lungi Ngidi. With this back-to-back win, South Africa has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, turning the final game into a dead rubber.
Breetzke’s Explosive 88 Powers South Africa to 277
South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat first under partly cloudy skies. However, early trouble surfaced as Xavier Bartlett struck twice within the powerplay. Markram departed for a duck, caught by Travis Head at mid-wicket, while Ryan Rickelton followed soon after, edging to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.
Just when pressure seemed to mount, Breetzke unleashed his aggressive stroke play. Facing the fiery pace of Aaron Hardie, he hammered two sixes and a four in one over, relieving early tension. His 88 off just 84 balls, laced with eight boundaries and two towering sixes, became the backbone of South Africa’s innings.
Stubbs Stands Firm with 74
Tristan Stubbs stepped in at No. 5 and added stability, building two crucial partnerships — a 67-run stand with Tony de Zorzi (38) and an 89-run stand with Breetzke. Stubbs’ well-paced 74-run innings helped South Africa post a competitive total of 277 before getting all out in the final over. Adam Zampa (3-63) was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, while Cameron Green’s sharp fielding earned him four catches.
Ngidi’s Fiery Spell Breaks Australian Backbone
Australia’s chase began on a shaky note. In just the fourth over, Nandre Burger dismissed Travis Head for 9. Marnus Labuschagne followed soon after with a single-digit score, continuing his poor run of form. Although captain Mitchell Marsh tried to counterattack with a quickfire 18, his innings ended prematurely, adding to Australia’s woes.
Inglis Fights Alone with 87
Josh Inglis was the only batter who showed genuine resistance. His 87 came from 74 balls, featuring 10 boundaries, but lacked meaningful support. Green tried to anchor the middle overs with a composed 35, but spinner Senuran Muthusamy got the breakthrough with a caught and bowled dismissal.
Ngidi’s introduction tilted the game decisively in South Africa’s favor. He removed Carey (13), Hardie (10), and finally Inglis — inducing a faint edge that was comfortably taken by wicketkeeper Rickelton. Australia was bowled out for 193 in just 37.5 overs, well short of the target.
Table: Match Summary – 2nd ODI in Mackay
| Team | Top Scorer | Best Bowler | Total Score | Overs Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | M. Breetzke (88) | L. Ngidi (5-42) | 277 all out | 49.5 overs |
| Australia | J. Inglis (87) | A. Zampa (3-63) | 193 all out | 37.5 overs |
Key Absences Didn’t Hinder Proteas’ Game Plan
It’s worth noting that South Africa achieved this commanding win despite missing major players. Star pacer Kagiso Rabada was sidelined due to injury, while off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen was unavailable after being reported for a suspect bowling action in the first ODI.
Yet the replacement bowlers — particularly Burger and Muthusamy — adapted impressively, keeping pressure on Australia’s batting with disciplined line and length.
Australia’s Ongoing ODI Struggles Against South Africa
Australia’s recent record against South Africa in ODIs has been concerning. With this loss, the Aussies have now failed to win a single bilateral ODI series against the Proteas in their last five attempts.
This collapse once again raises questions about middle-order consistency, poor shot selection under pressure, and the absence of impactful partnerships beyond the top order.
What to Expect in the Final ODI?
With the series already in the bag, South Africa may rotate their squad in the third ODI to test bench strength ahead of upcoming tournaments. For Australia, it’s an opportunity to regroup, give youngsters some exposure, and possibly avoid a whitewash at home.
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Conclusion
With two dominant performances back-to-back, South Africa has not only claimed the South Africa vs Australia ODI Series, but also signaled their strength and depth in white-ball cricket. Breetzke’s fearless batting, Stubbs’ maturity, and Ngidi’s lethal pace spell all point to a team in sync and prepared for greater challenges ahead.
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