Matthew Breetzke produced another statement innings in Durban as South Africa opened their three-match ODI series against Australia with a 67-run victory on Thursday, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The Proteas recovered from a cautious start with the bat before Breetzke and Marco Jansen took control, setting Australia a target of 298 after South Africa finished on 297-8 from their 50 overs.
Australia looked capable of chasing it down for much of the opening stages of their innings.
Then the wheels came off.
The visitors were eventually bowled out for 230, losing their final nine wickets for just 101 runs after a promising start had put them firmly in the contest.
For South Africa, Breetzke’s 112 was the centrepiece of an impressive batting effort.
The 26-year-old walked in at No.4 and initially kept things simple, building his innings through conventional strokes before accelerating alongside Jansen.
Breetzke eventually faced 106 balls for his century-plus score, while Jansen provided the perfect counterpunch with a career-best-equalling 75 from 59 deliveries.
Breetzke’s record in the format continues to stand out, with the opener now averaging more than 60 after 15 ODIs.
The chase could hardly have begun better for Australia.
Captain Mitch Marsh came out attacking from the outset, smashing 60 from only 36 balls, while Travis Head contributed 36 from 37 as the pair raced to a 90-run opening partnership in just 9.2 overs.
MATCH RESULT. 🏏🇿🇦
South Africa defend their total, bowling Australia out for 230 to secure a 67-run victory in the first ODI. 💪🇿🇦
A brilliant all-round team performance to start the series!#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/lRkOfbfYS5
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 24, 2026
South Africa needed something to change the momentum, and Australia’s own shot selection eventually gave them the opening they needed.
Several Australian batters fell after playing attacking shots without converting promising positions into substantial scores.
Matt Renshaw’s 44 briefly gave the visitors hope, but Jansen produced one of the moments of the match when he threw himself into a spectacular one-handed diving catch in the outfield to remove him.
Renshaw’s dismissal left Australia on 215-7, and there was little left in the lower order to mount a recovery.
South Africa’s spinners then made sure the chase did not restart.
Keshav Maharaj was particularly effective, finishing with 4-20 from 9.2 overs, while Bjorn Fortuin claimed 2-34 from eight overs as the Proteas kept Australia under pressure through the middle and closing stages.
Australia will now turn their attention to Sunday’s second ODI in Johannesburg, where captain Pat Cummins is expected to return.
The three-match series is also an important opportunity for Australia to assess their options ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be hosted across South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Thursday’s defeat gives them plenty to consider, particularly after allowing a strong position in the chase to slip away.
Marsh was blunt about Australia’s performance afterwards.
‘I’m pretty disappointed. South Africa outplayed us. It was a good game of cricket, but we fell well short,’ the Australian captain said.
South Africa, meanwhile, will head to Johannesburg with a 1-0 series lead and plenty of confidence after turning a competitive contest into a convincing win.
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Picture: Gallo Images
