South Africa’s hopes of a 3-0 clean sweep over Australia were washed out in Potchefstroom on Wednesday night. Australia won the rain-hit third ODI by 45 runs on the DLS method, with South Africa on 145/4 after 28 overs when the weather ended the chase, well behind the par score of 190. The Proteas still take the series 2-1.
Australia build a big total
The day started late. A wet outfield delayed the toss by 30 minutes, and South Africa, led by Aiden Markram in place of Temba Bavuma, chose to bowl first.
Australia made the most of it. Captain Mitchell Marsh set the tone with 56 off 42 balls, Alex Carey anchored the innings with 74 off 88, and Oliver Peake added 48 off 53 in an impressive first series. Australia finished on 322/9 from their 50 overs.
Corbin Bosch was South Africa’s best bowler by some distance. His 4/60 are the best figures of his ODI career. Lizaad Williams took 2/48 and Gerald Coetzee 2/61.
Rickelton’s lone hand
The chase never settled. Quinton de Kock fell for a duck to Xavier Bartlett, who also trapped Markram lbw for 15. Adam Zampa then took two wickets, stumping Matthew Breetzke for 25 and trapping Tristan Stubbs lbw for 14.
Through it all, Ryan Rickelton held the innings together. He was 71 not out off 81 balls when the rain came, with Bosch alongside him on 13. It was an innings worth more than the result it ended up in, but South Africa were 45 runs behind the DLS par when play was called off.
For Australia, Bartlett and Zampa bowled their best spells of the series. After losing the first two matches, the tourists found the control they had lacked in Durban and Johannesburg, and they head into the Tests with a win behind them and some belief restored.
The worry for the Tests
The bigger story for South Africa may be off the scorecard. Tony de Zorzi hurt his hamstring while fielding during Australia’s innings and could not bat. He is now a doubt for the first Test at Kingsmead, which starts on Friday 9 October.
It adds to a growing list. Before tonight, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka were already out with hamstring problems, and Kagiso Rabada is being managed through a hamstring injury of his own. The selectors will be watching de Zorzi’s scan results closely.
What the series showed
South Africa won the first ODI at Kingsmead by 67 runs and the second at the Wanderers by 32, and they won the series with a match to spare. The pattern in those wins was spin and depth: Keshav Maharaj took six wickets in the series, and David Miller and Breetzke both made hundreds.
Tonight was different. With five changes to the side after the series was won, the batting lacked the same weight, and once the rain started to threaten, South Africa were always chasing the DLS par as well as the total.
What comes next
Australia stay in Potchefstroom for a two-day match against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI on 3 and 4 October. Then the Test series begins: Kingsmead from 9 October, St George’s Park from 18 October and Newlands from 27 October. All three Tests count towards the World Test Championship, where South Africa are the holders.
Match facts
- Result: Australia won by 45 runs (DLS method)
- Australia: 322/9 (50 overs). Carey 74, Marsh 56, Peake 48. Bosch 4/60
- South Africa: 145/4 (28 overs). Rickelton 71 not out
- Venue: Potchefstroom
- Series: South Africa win 2-1
Sources used
- https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/cricket/australia-win-rain-disrupted-odi-proteas/ (checked 22:24 SAST): 45 runs DLS, scores, Marsh, Carey, Peake figures, Bosch 4/60 career best, Rickelton 71 off 81, Bosch 13, de Zorzi, series 2-1, tour match
- https://www.sacricketmag.com/rain-helps-australia-deny-south-africa-whitewash/ (checked 22:25 SAST): 45 runs DLS, par 190, Bartlett and Zampa wickets, de Kock duck, Markram lbw 15
- https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/cricket/2026-09-30-australia-claim-consolation-win-against-under-par-proteas/ (checked 22:24 SAST): de Zorzi doubt for the first Test, Bartlett and Zampa best of series, five changes
- https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/proteas/live-proteas-v-australia-3rd-odi-20260930-0581 (checked 22:22 SAST): Williams 2/48, Coetzee 2/61, Breetzke 25, Stubbs lbw Zampa 14, Markram captain in place of Bavuma
- https://magic828.co.za/toss-proteas-elect-to-bowl-after-wet-outfield-delays-start-by-30-minutes-in-potchefstroom/ (checked 22:23 SAST): wet outfield, 30-minute delay, Proteas chose to bowl
- fact base v0.2.1 and earlier packets: first and second ODI margins, Maharaj six wickets, Miller and Breetzke hundreds, hamstring injuries (cricket.com.au, 28 September), Test and tour-match dates