DURBAN: Matthew Breetzke scored a superb 112 to guide South Africa to a 67-run victory over Australia in the first One-day International in Durban on Thursday, but the tourists will rue the loss of cheap wickets as they faltered in their chase.

South Africa posted 297 for eight in their 50 overs at Kingsmead and Australia were well on course after a fast start, until poor shot selection caused their charge to collapse and they finished on 230 all out, losing their last eight wickets for 101 runs.

Australia will welcome the likely return of captain Pat Cummins for the second match in the three-game series in Johannesburg on Sunday, but if this series is a fact-finding mission ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, there will be much food for thought.

The toughest time to bat was in the morning and Australia won the toss and decided to bowl, strangling the South African run-rate early on.

But when Breetzke came in at number four, he played conventional cricket shots to get his innings started, before he found a willing partner in big-hitting Marco Jansen.

Breetzke, who averages over 60 with the bat in his 15 ODIs, scored his 112 from 106 deliveries and Jansen equalled his career-best with 75 in 59 deliveries as the pair put on 107 for the sixth wicket.

At one stage, South Africa looked as though they may not make 250, so their score of 297 for eight was above par.

Australia started their innings in brilliant fashion as Mitch Marsh blasted 60 from 36 balls and put on 90 in 9.2 overs for the first wicket with Travis Head (36 from 37 balls).

But too many batters threw their wickets away under little pressure and from being well on top in the chase, the momentum changed as wickets slowed the run-rate.

Jansens sensational diving one-handed catch in the outfield to dismiss Matt Renshaw (44) left Australia on 215-7, a position they never recovered from.

South African spinners Keshav Maharaj (4-20 in 9.2 overs) and Bjorn Fortuin (2-34 in eight) were the catalyst for the change in momentum with brilliant control.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:
Q. de Kock c Inglis b Ellis14
T. de Zorzi c Renshaw b Hazlewood0
T. Bavuma c Inglis b Zampa30
M. Breetzke run out112
R. Rickelton c Renshaw b Zampa27
D. Miller c & b Ellis9
M. Jansen lbw Ellis75 C. Bosch not out9
G. Coetzee run out6
B. Fortuin not out1

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-8)14
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs)297
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6 (de Zorzi), 2-29 (de Kock), 3-83 (Bavuma), 4-125 (Rickelton), 5-168 (Miller), 6-275 (Breetzke), 7-289 (Jansen), 8-296 (Coetzee)
DID NOT BAT: K. Maharaj
BOWLING: Starc 10-0-60-0 (2w); Hazlewood 10-2-50-1 (1w); Ellis 10-0-57-3; Edwards 10-0-56-0 (1w); Zampa 7-0-50-2; Connolly 1-0-7-0; Renshaw 2-0-11-0

AUSTRALIA:
M. Marsh c Breetzke b Maharaj60
T. Head c Miller b Jansen36
C. Connolly c Miller b Fortuin38
J. Inglis c Jansen b Fortuin3
M. Renshaw c Jansen b Coetzee44
C. Green c Breetzke b Maharaj5
J. Edwards c Jansen b Maharaj5
M. Starc c Jansen b Bosch16
N. Ellis b Bosch4
A. Zampa c Breetzke b Maharaj7

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, NB-1, W-6)12
TOTAL (all out, 41.2 overs)230
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-90 (Marsh), 2-129 (Head), 3-134 (Inglis), 4-156 (Connolly), 5-176 (Green), 6-188 (Edwards), 7-215 (Renshaw), 8-221 (Starc), 9-230 (Ellis)
DID NOT BAT: J. Hazlewood
BOWLING: Coetzee 8-1-40-1 (1w); Bosch 9-0-67-2 (5w); Maharaj 9.2-2-20-4; Fortuin 8-0-34-2
RESULT: South Africa won by 67 runs.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Matthew Breetzke
SERIES: South Africa lead three-match series 1-0.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2026