Cooper Connolly’s Five-Wicket Magic as Australia Crush South Africa by 276 Runs to Avoid ODI Whitewash

 

Australia Smash South Africa by 276 Runs in Record-Breaking ODI Thriller

Australia avoided a humiliating ODI whitewash spectacularly, thrashing South Africa by a massive 276 runs in the final match of the series in Mackay.

The hosts lit up the ground with a stunning batting show, 

piling up 431 runs — their second-highest ODI total ever — as Travis Head (142), Mitchell Marsh (100), and Cameron Green (118 off just 55 balls)* all smashed centuries. Green’s whirlwind ton came in just 47 balls, making it one of the fastest knocks by an Aussie.

With the batters setting up the game,

 The bowlers finished the job in style. Cooper Connolly, just two days after turning 22, ripped through South Africa’s lineup with 5-22, becoming the youngest Australian ever to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs.

South Africa never looked in the chase. They crumbled to 155 all out in just 24.5 overs, suffering their heaviest-ever defeat in ODIs by runs.

The visitors had already sealed the series 2-1 with wins in the first two games, but this loss will sting.

“A pretty crazy day, wasn’t it?” skipper Mitchell Marsh said after the win. “Full performance from the lads. Shame it was a bit too late, but credit to South Africa for how they played earlier in the series.”

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma admitted his side was outplayed:

“We were under the pump from the first ball. They made it look like a great surface and were far better than us today.”

Despite the defeat, 

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj was named Player of the Series for his six wickets across the three games.

Australia’s only bigger ODI total came back in 2006 — also against South Africa — when they posted a record-breaking 434.