Proteas: Malan hundred leads South Africa to series victory over Australia

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the second ODI against South Africa at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Wednesday (4 March).

A fine start was curtailed by Lungi Ngidi who struck to remove David Warner (35) and then Steve Smith (13) and Marnus Labuschange (0) off successive balls in the 13th over.

Finch (69) rebuilt the innings with D’ Arcy Short, putting on 77 for the fourth wicket before Anrich Nortje found his line and length to undo the Australia skipper.

Australia needed Short (69) to bat through, but Tabraiz Shamsi got the crucial scalp for the Proteas just as the tourists threatened to charge. 

Ngidi takes the game by the scruff

Ngidi returned as the South African pace bowlers rattled through the tail. Ngidi’s return of 6/58 represents the second-best bowling figures for a South African in an ODI with Makhaya Ntini’s 6/22 against the same enemy in Cape Town still standing as the Proteas benchmark.

Australia were bowled out for 271 off the last ball of the innings and despite not getting as much as they wanted, South Africa would still need a Mangaung Oval record chase to win the match.

Proteas lose De Kock early

Mitchell Starc pegged South Africa back early with another lethal first over that robbed the Proteas of their influential skipper.

Janneman Malan and Jon-Jon Smuts were left to rebuild, both batsmen grew into their innings. Smuts got a let-off after he was caught behind and had walked off the ground before a no-ball call came.

Malan played some amazing shots but struggled to rotate the strike, and with the two Proteas struggling to get Ashton Agar away Finch brought Adam Zampa into the attack. Agar went for just seven runs in his first three overs as the Proteas batsmen looked to soak up the pressure.

Struggling to pierce the field and find the boundary the Proteas turned to chipping the ball into space in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the Australian bowlers.

The introduction of Marnus Labuschagne prompted Malan to have a swing and deposit the SA-born part-time leg-spinner onto the bank behind the midwicket boundary.

Smuts chipped Zampa to Cummins at long on to end his 63-ball stay at the crease with 41 runs to his name. The Proteas were 92 for 2.

Malan reached a maiden ODI half-century with another chip shot that landed safely in a gap at deep extra cover.

The arrival of Kyle Verreynne brought greater urgency to the Proteas running. His stay was shortlived though as he just flicked Cummins to square leg and had to go for three.

Klaasen takes the pressure off Malan

At the halfway mark in the innings, South Africa were 109 for 3 with Malan having been joined by first ODI hero Heinrich Klaasen.

Klaasen brought greater intent to the innings and helped ease some of the pressure on young Malan.

With 15 overs remaining and Malan and Klaasen at the wicket South Africa needed 108 runs to win. The set pair had wrestled the initiative from Australia with Klaasen’s ability against spin a key factor.

Finch turned to Cummins to get a breakthrough and he thought he had it but Bongani Jele’s out verdict was overturned on review and Klaasen remained in the middle. TV replays denied Cummins again.

Malan got lucky when an ugly reverse sweep off the bowling of Marsh spooned up in the air but somehow fell safe with four fielders converging.

The Aussie skipper bravely turned to Zampa to bowl the 39th and was rewarded with the wicket of Klaasen (51 off 52 balls).

David Miller came to the wicket out of sorts despite a half-century in the first ODI but his first boundary was an authoritative drive through the covers that left the Proteas needing 76 runs in the last ten overs with six wickets in hand.

Malan was dropped off the second ball of the 41st over bowled by Zampa but the opener came back launching the spinner over extra cover.

To add extra tension to the situation Malan moved into the 90s in just as the game moved into its final phase.

Proteas go for the kill

On Malan’s debut a Starc yorker saw him get a first baller, but in Bloem, he was able to nudge the ball beyond the keeper and away to the third-man boundary to go to his maiden ODI hundred.

With five over to go South Africa needed 36 runs with Malan, on 109, and Miller, on 22 off 19 balls, at the crease.

Malan was the man taking risks at the death and with lady luck smiling on him he took Starc to task leaving the Proteas needing 16 from 18 balls. He then smashed a crucial six off Cummins to put South Africa on the brink of series victory.

Miller would hit the winning runs but Malan’s incredible knock of 129 not out was just what the dcotor ordered.