Concussion substitute Marnus Labuschagne performed a match-winning innings for Australia to trump an unbeaten century by South African captain Temba Bavuma within the first one-day worldwide on the Mangaung Oval on Thursday.
Bavuma carried his bat for an unbeaten 114 to allow South Africa to attain 222 all out.
It appeared greater than sufficient as Australia, batting with ultra-aggressive intent, crashed to 113 for seven within the seventeenth over.
But Labuschagne, batting at quantity eight after changing Cameron Green, restored calmness to the Australian innings, making 80 not out.
He shared an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand of 112 with Ashton Agar, who made 48 not out.
Green was dominated out after being struck on the left earpiece of his helmet by the second ball he confronted from Kagiso Rabada earlier than he had scored.
“Some weird things happen around concussions,” mentioned man of the match Labuschagne on the after-match presentation.
His Test profession was ignited when he changed Steve Smith throughout a Test at Lord’s in 2019.
Labuschagne was not chosen in Australia’s World Cup squad and solely joined the squad in South Africa after Steve Smith withdrew with a wrist damage.
He mentioned he had taken solely a brief break after this 12 months’s Ashes collection in England earlier than getting again to work.
“I knew I needed to improve my one-day game,” he mentioned.
Bavuma batted all through the South African innings whereas his teammates crumbled in opposition to correct bowling on a gradual, dry pitch with uneven bounce.
Bavuma was dropped on two when Agar put down a diving probability at backward level off Sean Abbott.
He survived once more on 88, with final man Lungi Ngidi on the wicket, when he top-edged a slog in opposition to leg-spinner Adam Zampa and wicketkeeper Alex Carey spilled a simple probability.
Two overs later, Bavuma hit Zampa for six and 4 to lift his fifth one-day worldwide century.
He completed with 14 fours and a six off 142 balls regardless of fighting cramp in direction of the tip of the innings.
He watched the Australian innings from the workforce balcony.
“We weren’t at our best with the ball,” mentioned Bavuma.
“Marnus took the opportunities he got early on and stabilised the innings.”
Originally printed as Dumped Aussie star rescues Australia in First ODI in opposition to South Africa
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
