Lungi Ngidi took 6/58 as Australia suffered a collapse of six wickets for 47 runs as South Africa won the match by six wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
South Africa continued their dominance of Australia in ODIs as they stormed to a six-wicket win in the second game at Bloemfontein to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The win was special for South Africa as they achieved a very special milestone in ODI contests against Australia. The six-wicket win for the Proteas was their 50th win in ODIs against Australia and they joined the likes of West Indies, India and England to have won fifty or more ODIs against Australia in this format.
England have won the most ODIs against Australia with 62 but they have lost 82. India have won 52 out of 140 games but have lost 78. West Indies have won 60 contests against Australia but have lost 74. South Africa are the only team currently in ODIs to have a positive win-loss ratio against Australia, having won 50 and lost 48. The win in Bloemfontein was South Africa's 10th win against Australia out of 11 matches, with their only loss coming in the seven-run loss in Adelaide during 2018. In this period, they suffered their first 5-0 whitewash in 2016 and they lost the ODI series at home 1-2 followed by a loss in the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time in 27 years.
Janneman Malan's maiden century and a haul of 6/58 from Lungi Ngidi helped South Africa register yet another win against Australia. Aaron Finch's team won the toss and chose to bat and they were given a good start by David Warner who raced away to 35. However, Ngidi broke the stand when Warner went back for 35 and it was left to Aaron Finch to steady the innings. Steve Smith fell to Ngidi for 13 while Marnus Labuschagne suffered a rare failure with 0. D'Arcy Short and Finch stitched a solid 77-run stand with Finch and Short reaching fifties.
Janneman Malan notched up his maiden century after falling for a duck on debut in the first game. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Finch fell to Anrich Nortje for 69 but Short shared a partnership of 66 with Mitchell Marsh. However, Short fell for 69 and the ensuing collapse, led by Ngidi saw South Africa taking six wickets and conceding just 47 runs in the death overs as Australia were bowled out for 271. South Africa lost Quinton de Kock to the second ball bowled by Mitchell Starc but Malan and JJ Smuts shared a solid partnership of 92 which put South Africa on course. Australia tried to fightback with the wickets of Smuts and Kyle Verreynne for 3 but Malan shared a match-defining stand of 81 with Heinrich Klassen.
Also Read | Australia Suffer Historic First After Loss To South Africa In Benoni ODI
Klassen notched up his fifty and he continued with his fine form but Australia had an opening when Adam Zampa dismissed him for 51. David Miller batted calmly but Malan neared his century with a six off Zampa and a boundary off Starc. Malan proceeded to kill the contest with two boundaries off Starc and he got closer to the target with a six off Pat Cummins. Miller hit a four off Starc as South Africa won their first series across any format after one year.
