An accomplished 92 from Aiden Markram and a fifth-wicket partnership of 109 with David Miller helped South Africa recover from a shaky 103 for four to post a total of 315 for nine after being asked to bat first in the fifth and deciding one-day international against Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Marco Jansen was on fire in the final five overs, smashing a career-best 47 from just 23 deliveries, launching a dazzling four boundaries and three sixes to turn a respectable total into a genuinely competitive one before slicing a drive to short third man.
Andile Phehlukwayo belted two fours and four sixes to finish with a magnificent flourish, taking 24 off the final over from Michael Neser to finish with an unbeaten 39 from just 19 balls.
Markram’s innings came hot on the heels of his unbeaten 102 in the third match in Potchefstroom, facing 87 balls and collecting nine fours and three sixes as he calmly rebuilt the innings on a well-grassed pitch offering generous movement to the seamers.
Miller, too, was patient initially, requiring 59 balls to reach his 50 before attempting to accelerate and holing out in the deep against Abbott for a responsible 63 from 65 balls with four fours and three sixes.
Earlier, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed in unfortunate circumstances when he was hit in the ribs by the second ball of the match from Michael Neser and was immediately called for a leg-bye by opening partner Quinton de Kock. He was understandably late to respond, which allowed Marnus Labuschagne to take aim and score a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.
De Kock (27 from 39 balls) was caught at slip in his final ODI innings on home soil while Rassie van der Dussen (30 from 48 balls) drove Sean Abbott straight to cover where Labuschagne held a stinging catch.
Legspinner Adam Zampa (3-71) enjoyed some revenge against Heinrich Klaasen after the mauling he received at Supersport Park on Friday when he slipped a quick, flat delivery past the bat and onto off-stump to dismiss him for a modest six from 13 balls. He later trapped Gerald Coetzee lbw and bowled Keshav Maharaj with successive deliveries, both without scoring.
Just as Markram appeared destined for a second 100 in the series, he slog-swept part-time offspinner Tim David’s first ODI delivery to deep midwicket where Neser took the catch.
Apart from Bavuma’s return to the XI after injury, allrounder Phehlukwayo replaced fast bowler Kagiso Rabada who was experiencing mild ankle pain.
Australia recalled allrounder Cameron Green (10-0-59-1), having missed the last three games with concussion while Josh Inglis replaced Travis Head, who fractured a finger in the last game which South Africa won by 164 runs to level the five-match series at 2-2.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wkt), Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wkt), Tim David, Michael Neser, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
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