Matthew Breetzke ton leads South Africa to 67-run ODI win over Australia in Durban to move 1-0 up in series

· 4 min read

Matthew Breetzke scored a superb 112 to guide South Africa to a 67-run victory over Australia ‌in the first one-day international in Durban on Thursday, but the tourists will rue the loss of cheap wickets as they ‌faltered in their chase.

South Africa posted 297-8 in their 50 overs and Australia were well ​on course after a fast start, until poor shot selection caused their charge to collapse and they finished on 230 all out, losing ​their last nine wickets for 101 runs.

Australia will welcome the ‌likely return of captain Pat Cummins for the second match in the three-game series in Johannesburg on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, but ​if this series is a fact-finding mission ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, there will be much food for thought.

"I'm pretty ​disappointed," Australia captain Mitch Marsh said. "South Africa outplayed us. It was ⁠a good game of cricket but we ⁠fell well short.

"We had our opportunities, I am probably going to sound like a broken record speaking about having partnerships in our ‌batting, but we weren't able to form many tonight."

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Australia won the toss and decided to bowl, strangling the South African run-rate early on.

But when Breetzke came in at number ‌four, he played conventional cricket shots to get his innings started, before he found a willing partner in big-hitting Marco Jansen.

Breetzke, who averages over 60 with the bat in his 15 ODIs, scored his 112 from 106 deliveries and Jansen equalled his career best with ⁠75 in 59 deliveries.

Australia started their innings in brilliant fashion as Marsh ​blasted 60 from 36 balls and put on 90 in ​9.2 overs for the first wicket with Travis Head (36 from 37 balls).

But ​too many batters threw their wickets away at the top of the order.

Jansen's sensational ⁠diving one-handed catch in the outfield to dismiss Matt Renshaw (44) left Australia on 215-7, a position they never recovered from.

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South African spinners Keshav Maharaj (4-20 in 9.2 overs) and Bjorn Fortuin (2-34 in ⁠8) showed excellent control.

"Very satisfied, all round it ​was a good fight from the batters and bowlers," South Africa captain Temba ​Bavuma said.

"Looking at how both innings started, we were under pressure in the first 10 overs in each, but we managed to get ‌a very competitive score on ​that wicket."

England vs Sri Lanka results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports

  • First T20 (Utilita Bowl) - England won by 119 runs
  • Second T20 (Sophia Gardens) - England won by six wickets
  • Third T20 (Emirates Old Trafford) - England won by eight wickets
  • First ODI (Durham) - England won by 89 runs
  • Second ODI (Thursday September 24) - Headingley (12.30pm)
  • Third ODI (Sunday September 27) - The Kia Oval (10.30am)