Bavuma and Miller centuries seal series for South Africa against Australia

Temba Bavuma and David Miller scored contrasting centuries, while the spinners Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin shone again, as South Africa clinched the one-day international series with a 32-run win over Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The hosts posted a daunting 365–9 on the back of Bavuma’s 103 and Miller’s career-best 142. Maharaj (2–54) and Fortuin (2–70) then took two wickets apiece as Australia were bowled out for 333, despite another rapid start from the openers Mitch Marsh and Travis Head, who both made 84.

Bavuma, the captain, pulled Josh Hazlewood for an early six but had to consolidate at 36–2 after the openers Aiden Markram (0) and Quinton de Kock (15) fell inside the first seven overs, SuperSport reported.

Markram popped a catch to cover off the first ball of the innings, while De Kock, who had pulled Hazlewood for two sixes, was caught by the wicketkeeper Alex Carey off the same bowler – the first of five catches for Carey. Matthew Breetzke then steadied the innings with a brisk 34 from 28 balls, including six fours.

Miller came to the crease at 93–3 in the 16th over and was in rampant form from the start, reaching 142 from just 93 balls with 12 fours and nine sixes. Bavuma sliced a drive off the seamer Jack Edwards to cover shortly after completing his sixth ODI century, 103 from 116 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, having added 156 for the fourth wicket with Miller.

Miller hit two sixes each off the part-time spinner Matt Renshaw (3–0–29–0), the seamer Xavier Bartlett (1–70) and Edwards, who took 5–67 from his 10 overs, his maiden five-wicket haul in List A cricket. Miller eventually toe-ended a cut off a wide delivery from Edwards, but the fun continued as the Jansen twins arrived. Marco hit a four and two sixes in his 19 from 15 balls, and Duan finished unbeaten on 27 from 18 deliveries.

Hazlewood took three wickets for 70 from his 10 overs, but it was a chastening day for the leg-spinner Adam Zampa, whose nine wicketless overs cost 77 runs. Australia’s attack was further compromised by a side strain to Nathan Ellis, which limited him to four overs.

At 130 without loss in the 17th over, Australia were again in a strong position, but unlike in Durban the target was well beyond them. Fortuin made the breakthrough by bowling Marsh off his pads for 84 from 53 balls (10 fours and five sixes), before Head was trapped lbw by Markram, who returned an outstanding 10–0–55–1 with his off-spin.

Maharaj then removed Carey (17) and Renshaw (32), both lbw. Marco Jansen made the game safe with two wickets in two balls in the 47th over, the first a sliding boundary catch by Breetzke to dismiss Edwards for 25.

The third and final match of the series is a day-night fixture at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, starting at 1.30pm.