AUS vs SA

Bavuma collects the ODI trophy and then the South African team pose with it in front of the CHAMPIONS hoarding. They might have been blown out of the water today but they are the winners of this 3-match ODI series with a 2-1 scoreline. So, the T20I series went to Australia with the same margin and the visitors have responded in the 50-over format to end this white-ball tour. It has been a pleasure bringing all the action to you. Time now for me, Sourabh Agrawal, to take your leave on behalf of Karthik Raj and the entire team. Cheers!

Mitchell Marsh (Australia Captain): "Was a crazy day. A full performance, shame that it came late but full credit to South Africa, they played outstandingly well in the first two games. Today was just about coming out and win this game, never want to be clean swept specially at home. It is a pleasure to bat at the other end when Head is going like that and Green was outstanding. Nice to finish the series with a win. First fifer for Cooper, he was pretty happy with that, anytime you see guys come in and perform like that it is great. Plenty of positives to take."

Temba Bavuma (South Africa Captain): "We were under the pump from the first ball. Didn't pitch up today, they made it look like a really good wicket which it was but they were far better than us. It is a good learning curve, not everyday you chase 430 so still to find that balance between playing high-risk and keeping the batsmanship. We're not close at the moment(to being a complete package), we spoke about it during the series that we have not played at 100% and still come out at the top in the series is a good effort. Keep learning about it it batting, bowling and keep learning from mistakes. Obviously we have some time before the ODI world cup in 2 years time, we need to keep getting better."

Keshav Maharaj: "Fortunate enough to get a good spell under my belt in the first game and contributed a little bit after that. Hard work over the years paid off and really honored to get career-best figures in Australia. Today, the wicket was flat but we didn't bowl with much discipline as well. Credit to the Aussie batters."

Travis Head: Been nice to play at Darwin and Mackay. Different experience for us. Happy to perform, good signs for a couple of players. Will get confidence going into a break now. (On what he did differently) The tempo was better today, we got off to a good start which is really important. It is nice to get a hundred for Australia especially with the series I have had.

8:25 PM Local Time, 3:55 PM IST: Australia win by 276 runs

Travis Head 142(103) | Cooper Connolly 5/22
Dewald Brevis 49(28) | Keshav Maharaj 1/57

How fitting is it that the man who set it all up for Australia with a blistering century up top cap it all off with the final catch diving forward at point as Zampa gets into the wickets column as well.

It might be a series loss for Australia by a 1-2 margin, it might be a weakened South African lineup tonight at Mackay but this is an absolute statement win and a thrashing if ever there was one. South Africa suffer their largest-ever defeat in ODI history as Australia absolutely hammer them in this final match of the series.

A 250-run opening stand between Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh in the afternoon and then Cameron Green complementing it with a 47-ball century, the second-quickest for Australia in ODIs, as the hosts blasted their way to a gigantic total of 431/2 in their quota of 50 overs. It was also the first time that the top-3 Aussie batters all scored a century in ODIs.

People remembered the historic day in Jo'Burg in 2006 when South Africa pulled off the famous chase of 434 and wondered if history could be repeated. Not to be though, South Africa were well and truly blown away with the bat as well. The Aussie new ball pacers started tremendously with 4 wickets in the powerplay, 2 each for Abbott and Bartlett, and you knew that it was all but game over then when it was 50/4. Brevis entertained with a 28-ball 49 but it was too little too less. Cooper Connolly got into the act with his left-arm spin and claimed a first fifer in first-class cricket as South Africa folded for just 155.

24.5 Adam Zampa to Kwena Maphaka, THAT'S THAT! Leg-break outside-off from around the wicket, Maphaka looks to play a reverse-sweep but he gloves it towards backward point where Travis Head runs in and dives to complete a fine catch. So, Australia bowl out South Africa for 155 and complete a one-sided 276-run victory. Quite the hammering to get some consolation after losing the ODI series!

24.1 Adam Zampa to Senuran Muthusamy, full leg-break outside-leg, Muthusamy tries to glance it fine but he misses it. Leg-bye taken with the ball rolling through fine-leg.