||Desk Report||

South Africa have sealed the three-match ODI series by winning the decisive third ODI against Australia, in Hobart.

Australia, who broke their seven-match losing streak by winning the second ODI, started well with the ball, removing South Africa’s top three for 55 runs. What came next, turned the tables on the hosts as Faf du Plessis and David Miller belted a brilliant century each.

Du Plessis and Miller formed a 252-run partnership – the highest fourth-wicket stand for South Africa – which set the stage for South Africa’s first ODI series win down under since 2009.

The South Africa skipper played a 125-run innings, laced with 15 boundaries and two over-boundaries. Miller smashed 13 fours and four sixes on his way to a 139-run knock. The duo got out in the last two overs, after lifting the total past 300 runs.

South Africa added 130 runs in the last 10 overs, taking the total to 320 runs for five wickets.

Mitchell Starc and Marcus Stoinis bagged two wickets for the hosting side while Josh Hazlewood took one scalp.

Coming on to chase the daunting total, Australia also lost three early wickets. However, Shaun Marsh restored the innings by sharing two crucial partnerships with Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey while also adding a hundred to his name. But unlike the Aussies, South Africa did not capitulate to the opponents in the slog overs and claimed a 40-run victory at the end.

Marsh’s 106-run innings included seven fours and four sixes. Stoinis, Carey, and Maxwell showed signs of middle-order revival, posting 63, 42, and 35 runs, respectively, but those efforts were not enough for Australia to avoid their fifth successive ODI series defeat since January last year.

Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada scalped three wickets each for the Proteas. Dwaine Pretorius picked up two wickets and Lungi Ngidi claimed one.