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Matthew Breetzke Leads South Africa to 67-Run Victory over Australia in 1st ODI at Durban
Amir Azimi
Daily News

Matthew Breetzke Leads South Africa to 67-Run Victory over Australia in 1st ODI at Durban

South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI Highlights and Scorecard

At Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa secured a convincing 67-run win against Australia in the opening One Day International of 2026. Matthew Breetzke was the star, scoring 112 runs off 106 balls and taking three catches, earning him the Player of the Match award.

Match Details

  • Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
  • Captains: Temba Bavuma (South Africa), Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
  • Toss: Australia won and chose to field first
  • Telecast: Fox Cricket, Kayo (Australia), SABC (South Africa)
  • Umpires: Asif Yaqoob, Lubabalo Gcuma (on-field), Richard Illingworth (third umpire), Arno Jacobs (fourth umpire)
  • Match Referee: Javagal Srinath
  • Result: South Africa won by 67 runs
  • Player of the Match: Matthew Breetzke (112 runs, 3 catches)

Australia Innings Summary

  • 41 Overs: Australia all out for 230
  • South Africa's fielding and spin bowling dominated, with Keshav Maharaj taking 4 wickets for 20 runs and Bjorn Fortuin picking up 2 wickets for 34 runs.
  • The match ended dramatically when Adam Zampa top-edged a slog sweep off Maharaj, leading to a spectacular tumbling catch by Breetzke at deep midwicket.
  • Mitchell Marsh began strongly with 60 runs before the batting collapse started.
  • 30 Overs: Australia at 189/6, after a difficult period where Maharaj and Fortuin dismantled the middle order.
  • 20 Overs: Australia was 146/3, with Cooper Connolly scoring 38 and Travis Head on 35 before the spin pressure grew.
  • 10 Overs: Australia reached 96/1, powered by Mitchell Marsh’s aggressive 60 off 36 balls, featuring five fours and six sixes.

South Africa Innings Summary

  • 50 Overs: South Africa scored 297/8, recovering well after early wickets.
  • Matthew Breetzke anchored the innings with 112 runs, while Marco Jansen added a swift 75 off 59 balls, lifting the total.
  • Australia’s bowling was mixed; Mitchell Starc struggled, conceding 60 runs without a wicket, while Nathan Ellis took 3 wickets for 57 runs.
  • 40 Overs: South Africa were 208/5 but lost David Miller cheaply.
  • 30 Overs: Breetzke was steady on 63, while Ryan Rickelton had contributed 27 before being dismissed.
  • 20 Overs: South Africa stood at 93/3 with Breetzke and Bavuma rebuilding the innings after early losses.
  • Powerplay (10 Overs): The Proteas reached 40/2, losing Tony de Zorzi and Quinton de Kock early to Australia’s pace attack.

Series and Team Information

  • South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin
  • Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
  • Upcoming Matches:
  • 2nd ODI: September 27 at The Wanderers, Johannesburg
  • 3rd ODI: September 30 at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom

Additional Notes

Australia elected to bowl first after winning the toss. South Africa’s strong batting and tactical bowling, especially the spin duo of Maharaj and Fortuin, turned the tide after Australia’s promising start. Breetzke’s all-around performance with both bat and in the field was pivotal in giving South Africa the series lead. This series offers a glimpse into both teams' preparations ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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