Ellis goes down as Aussies fall under another spin spell

A third injury in four games, this one to breakout white-ball quick Nathan Ellis, further tainted Australia's slump to a sixth series ODI defeat from their past eight after being exposed by South Africa's spinners for a second match on the bounce.

Dreams of pulling off their highest ever 50-over run chase – and the largest at the Wanderers since the 438-game miracle – were very much alive as Mitch Marsh and Travis Head torched the Proteas' new-ball attack.  

But after a rapid 130-run opening stand laid a formidable platform to run down the hosts' 9-365, Australia were bombarded with spin and tied down in similar circumstances to the first ODI in Durban. Keshav Maharaj (2-54) led the charge as Temba Bavuma called on 30 overs of finger spin.

Australia's middle order failed to make use of the thin Highveld air and a rapid Johannesberg outfield the way Bavuma and David Miller had. Their 156-run partnership was assisted by Ellis' side injury that limited him to only four overs.

The timing could not have been worse for Australia to lose their best death bowler; South Africa scored at nine per over for the second half of their innings after Ellis went down.

Xavier Bartlett (50 off 28) launched five sixes in a spectacular late cameo but was left with too much to do as only Matthew Renshaw (32 off 34) looked comfortable through the middle overs after Marsh and Head each struck 84, the former from 23 fewer balls.

Miller blazed a career-high 142 from only 93 that was as brutal – smashing nine sixes – as it was heartwarming – paying tribute to his mother Jenny, a breast cancer survivor whose name adorned the back of his shirt – on South Africa's Pink Day.  

Bavuma meanwhile anchored the innings with 103 from 116 in his sixth ODI ton, the backbone of the highest score Australia have conceded since the 2023 World Cup.

With Ellis leaving the field mid-innings, second-gamer Jack Edwards (5-67 off 10 overs) stepped up as senior bowlers Josh Hazlewood (3-70 off 10) and Adam Zampa (0-77 off nine) went around the park.

Ellis, playing his fifth ODI in 12 days, joined Josh Inglis (broken finger) and Billy Stanlake (side strain) in the casualty ward. The severity of this injury remained unclear.

The site of Green clutching his shoulder after a throw late in the South Africa innings was also concerning. The allrounder remained on the field and again did not bowl having returned this week as a batter only. 

After their 90-run blitz in 9.2 overs in Durban, Marsh and Head embarked on another boundary-laden Powerplay in pursuit of a big, but not unachievable, tally. Marsh again was the aggressor, the skipper pounding five sixes and twice as many fours.

But also familiar from the series opener were the ensuing struggles on a wicket that was increasingly conducive to turn. Marsh, who has chosen to bowl first in both games, failed to lay bat on a straight Bjorn Fortuin offering in his second consecutive dismissal to left-arm spin, while Head succumbed to Aiden Markram's off-spin.

Markram in fact created three chances against the latter in as many overs – Quinton de Kock put down a tough chance when he was on 63, then Fortuin fluffed a much easier one at point on 66 – before Head's luck ran out when he was lbw sweeping.  

The exits of Cooper Connolly (chipping Lizaad Williams to midwicket for 10) and recalled wicketkeeper Alex Carey (lbw to Maharaj of 17) forced Renshaw and Green (17 off 34) into a long period of consolidation.

Australia dipped under the asking rate suddenly and then swiftly. Having needed a gettable seven-and-a-half per over for the final 20, they managed just 2-38 off the next 11 overs to leave Bartlett an insurmountable task.

The No.8 took 19 off Fortuin's final over in a 61-run stand with Edwards. Ellis bravely came out to bat at No.10, but Bartlett fell victim to a searing yorker from Williams to seal the result.

It leaves Wednesday's third ODI in Potchefstroom as a dead rubber after South Africa took a 2-0 series lead.

Edwards, having failed to take wicket in hist two internationals, finally got there with his third ball of the day, nicking off first ODI centurion Matthew Breetzke before going on to register not only his maiden ODI five-for but his first in all List A cricket.

Marsh's call to insert his opponents at the toss looked to pay off early when Cooper Connolly's stunning one-handed catch meant Markram's first international innings in six months lasted one ball.

It came as one of two new-ball wickets for Hazlewood who was otherwise expensive in coughing up 34 from his first five overs – the most he has ever conceded in an ODI Powerplay. 

On the way to his eighth ODI hundred, Miller piled on the pain for the Aussies, playing a series of eye-catching strokes through and over the off-side, while Bavuma pulled almost anything above stump height.

Bavuma profited from some good fortune –Bartlett missed a chance to run him out on 32 and Edwards dropped a difficult diving catch when he was on 33 – while he was also slowed by nasty blow to his right arm off Edwards' bowling.

But his anchoring hand was a sure sign the Proteas' red-ball skipper is in good form ahead of next month's Test series. 

Australia's short-ball ploy to Marco Jansen paid off after the allrounder's blazing cameo in Durban, Edwards having him caught for 19 off 15.

His brother Duan, playing his first international alongside his twin amid South Africa's pace injury crisis, pulled a reasonable impersonation in hitting 27no off 18.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: South Africa beat Australia by 67 runs

Second ODI: South Africa beat Australia by 32 runs

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster