September 13th 2023.
David Warner's unfortunate misstep turned the tide in South Africa's favor during the one-day international series. Australia was cruising at 157-2 in the 19th over in a chase of 339 when Warner stumbled and was run out. The visitors soon folded to an all-out 227 in the 35th over, sending a clear message to the Australians that the series was still alive.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was ecstatic with the result, saying, “We've gone a notch up and want to keep raising the bar.” The South Africans had been looking for a win after the Australians had swept the first five tour matches, including all three Twenty20s.
The Australians had won the toss and handed a debut ODI to legspinner Tanveer Sangha, who had already made his T20 debut on this tour and had taken 4-31. Sangha wasn't introduced until Bavuma and Quinton de Kock had already laid the foundation for a good platform. As the batters moved along, it was clear that the Australians were in for a tough match.
De Kock had hit Sean Abbott and Josh Hazlewood hard, and it was finally Travis Head who stopped him at 146-1 in the 23rd over after a score of 82 from 77 balls. Bavuma was gone in the next over after a score of 57 off 62 balls, and Sangha had his maiden ODI wicket. Aiden Markram was unfazed by the pressure and pulled Sangha for a six. He maintained the momentum with Reeza Hendricks in a stand of 76 in 12 overs, and with Marco Jansen in a stand of 63 in five overs at the end.
Despite Markram's century off the last ball, smashing Hazlewood back down the ground for his ninth boundary, the Australians couldn't keep up. The South Africans had two front-line spinners in left-armers Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj who both took two wickets each. The Australians were in deep trouble at 178-5 in the 24th over after Warner's misstep. The pressure was too much, and Coetzee grabbed four of the last five wickets for a final 4-50.
In the end, it was Shamsi and Maharaj that were the architects of South Africa's victory. The series is still alive, and Friday's fourth match in Johannesburg will give Australia another chance to clinch the ODI series.
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