Carey and Marsh lead Australia to third ODI win
Australia beat South Africa by 45 runs (DLS) in Potchefstroom, denying a whitewash as Carey, Marsh and a returning Cummins impressed before the Test series.
Australia beat South Africa by 45 runs (DLS method) in the third ODI in Potchefstroom, avoiding a series sweep after the game was called off in the rain on Wednesday night.
Put in to bat, Australia posted 322-9. Adam Carey made 74 off 88 balls and captain Mitch Marsh scored 56 off 42, his third half-century of the series after 60 in Durban and 84 in Johannesburg. Ollie Peake added 48. Marsh and Travis Head put on 78 for the first wicket.
South Africa never threatened the chase, which would have been the highest successful run chase in an ODI at the ground. Adam Zampa took 2 for 34 off six overs and Xavier Bartlett 2 for 25 off five, striking early. Ryan Rickelton was unbeaten on 71 off 81 balls when the rain returned and ended the match, with South Africa on 145-4 off 28 overs.
Pat Cummins played his first match of the tour as a bowler only, with Marsh keeping the captaincy for the decider. Cummins took 0 for 17 off five overs, a return that points to him being ready to lead the side in the first Test in Durban on 9 October.
South Africa had already sealed the series 2-0, winning in Durban and then by 32 runs in Johannesburg on the back of centuries from Temba Bavuma and David Miller. This third match came too late to change the result, but it gives Australia something to build on before the Test series starts.
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