SA vs AUS 1st ODI: Temba Bavuma's inspiring hundred in vain as Australia record comeback win over South Africa

Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in the first ODI match at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Thursday, September 7. This was a great return by Australia. South Africa scored 222 runs while playing first, thanks to a hundred by captain Temba Bavuma that he didn't lose.

Australia had trouble catching up, but Marnus Labuschagne, who came in as a replacement, scored 70* runs off 80 balls to win the game for the visitors.

Most of the usual ODI players were back on the team, so stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to field first. South Africa also sent out a strong team, but Anrich Nortje, who is fast, didn't make the eleven this time.

Marsh's choice to bowl first worked out well, as Australian pacers, led by the best ODI bowler in the world, Josh Hazlewood, controlled the first innings.

With only 33 runs on the board, South Africa lost their two best batters, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen. But starter Bavuma kept the score going from one end by playing smartly and in control. A 32-run burst from Marco Jansen was the only help he got from the other side.

Bavuma made a fantastic hundred and was still unbeaten on 114 runs when he ran out of people to bat with. Hazlewood got three wickets, and Marcus Stoinis got two. With 222 runs and 49 overs, the Proteas were bowled out.

But the home team was able to get off to a good start and protect a low score total. On the second delivery of the game, Marco Jansen bowled out veteran opener David Warner. This put extra pressure on Australia right away.

Marsh, who was in good form, was taken out by Kagiso Rabada's ball in the sixth over, and Cameron Green had to leave the game because a ball hit him in the left ear.

Gerald Coetzee did a great job by getting rid of Alex Carey and Stoinis. At that point, Australia only had 113 runs and seven wickets. But Labuschagne came in as a replacement for Green and hit a knock that won the game and took it away from the Proteas.

He and spin-bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar put up 112 runs without being out of the game. Labuschagne got 80* off of 93, and Agar added 48* off of 69, which made it easy for Australia to reach the goal in 40.2 overs.

South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Australia Playing XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa