South Africa beat home team Australia by 40 runs in a 3rd and final match of ODI series. With a win in final ODI, South Africa have won the 3 match series by 2-1 here today at Oval, Australia. After brilliant bowling performance from Australian bowler, Australia successfully defended the target of 231 runs in the last match and leveled the series last Friday at Adelaide. Both teams named an unchanged XI in final ODI. In a series-deciding match, Australia won the toss and their captain Aaron Finch elected to field first.

Just like previous two matches, Quinton De Kock and Reeza Hendricks started the batting for South Africa, while Mitchell Starc opens the bowling for Australia. The opener de Kock failed in two matches in a row with his bat and got out in Starc second over, he was caught behind the wicket by Wicket Keeper Alex Carey when he was playing at 4 runs. South Africa lost their other openers just before the end of the first power play, They lost their second wicket at 26 runs. Hendricks caught behind by wicketkeeper Alex Carey in Marcus Stoinis over. South Africa batsmen were struggling to build the partnership and lost their third wickets in 16th over. Aiden Markram played some wonderful shots and scored 32 runs with one four and 3 sixes before he was also caught behind by Caray in Starc’s over. South Africa was in trouble and was at 3 for 55 in 16th over. Then captain Faf du Plessis and Miller played carefully and tried to build the momentum for Proteas.

These two gradually lift the momentum towards Proteas side. Both du Plessis and David Miller were lucky and gifted a second chance. Captain du Plessis catch was dropped by Carey on Glen Maxwell over when he was playing at 29 and David Miller successful review umpire Aleem Dar decision in 32nd over when he was playing at 41 runs. He overturned the Dar decision after he was given lbw in Maxwell over. Before losing the fourth wicket in 48th over, these two build up the partnership of 252 runs in just 199 balls which helped South Africa to set the target of 321 runs. This partnership broke the 18-year-old biggest partnership between record set by Australia’s Steve Waugh and Micheal Bevan of 222 runs. Captain du Plessis scored a brilliant inning of 125 runs in 114 balls (15 fours and 2 Sixes) and was caught by Marsh in Stoinis over. While David Miller scored 139 runs in 125 balls (13 Fours and 4 Sixes) before losing his wicket in final over of the first inning.

The partnership between these two improved South Africa’s RPO from 3.5 after 18 over to beyond the 6 after the end of 50 over. South Africa scored 130 runs from last 10 over while 70 runs came from last 5 overs. Australia conceded most runs since 2001 in last 15 overs, they conceded 174 runs in last 15 overs. Stoinis spent 70 runs for his two wickets in 7 over and was the most expensive bowler for Australia. Mitchel Star also took 2 wickets while Hazlewood picked up one wicket in his last over.

While chasing the big target of 321 runs, Australia shuffled their batting order. Chris Lynn replaced Travis Head and opened alongside with captain Aaron Finch. Australia lost their both openers in first 20 balls of the second inning. Lynn lost his wicket in the very first ball of the inning, he was caught behind the wicket by de Kock in Steyn over. The captain Finch lost his wicket in third over, He handed an easy catch to Rabada at mid-on in Ngidi over. He scored 11 from 15 balls. Just after the first powerplay, Travis Head was caught brilliantly by Markram in Rabada’s over. Australia was in trouble and was at 3 for 39 in 10th over. For the fourth wicket, Shaun Marsh and Stoinis stand the brilliant partnership. This pair added 107 runs in 119 balls before Stoinis, unfortunately, handed an easy catch at a point for Markram in Proterius over. Stoinis scored 63 runs from 76 (5 fours and 4 sixes). Australia was at 4 for 146 after Stoinis wicket.

Shaun Marsh again partnered with wicketkeeper batsmen Alex Carey added 80 runs in Australian board for the 5th wicket. After the end of 40th over the match seemed to be turned into both ways. Australia needed 106 runs from 10 over with 6 wickets in hand. In very next over Australia lost their 5th wicket, the set batsmen Shaun Marsh scored a brilliant century but unfortunately lost his wicket on 41st over. He scored 106 runs from 102 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes before caught out by Classen in Preotrius over. Australia lost their 6th wicket at 256 in 45th over. Carey departed for 42 runs from 41 balls in Steyn’s over. After that Glen Maxwell tried to play some big shots under pressure but he also lost his wicket in 48th over. Maxwell scored 35 runs from 27 balls with 3 fours before caught out at the boundary by Hendricks in Steyn over. Rabada picked up two wickets in final over. After the end of 50 overs, Australia scored only 280 runs and lost the match by 40 runs. For South Africa, Steyn and Rabada picked up 3 wickets while Pretorius picked up 2 wickets and Nigidi got 1 wicket.

David Miller was handed a man of the match for his brilliant century in the first inning and also handed a man of the series award for his 192 runs from 3 matches.

Full match detail at here