Third ODI Between SA And AUS: 3 Record Breaking Centuries

The hosts were fighting for their pride, trailing 2-0 in the series, and Australia came back strong, scoring an impressive 431-2 after choosing to bat – marking their highest ODI score ever at home.

Cameron Green smashed a century off just 47 balls, while Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh also hit tons, leading Australia to a massive 276-run victory over South Africa in a record-setting third and final one-day international on Sunday (August 24, 2025) in Mackay.

They wrapped up the Proteas for just 155 in the 25th over, with spinner Cooper Connolly claiming 5 wickets for 22 runs.

Head dominated with a fiery 142 off 103 balls, with skipper Marsh backing him up with 100 from 106.

Their 250 runs foundation at Great Barrier Reef Arena marked Australia’s highest ever opening partnership against the Proteas, surpassing the previous record of 170 set by Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist in Durban back in 2002.

Green then took charge with a rapid 118 not out, making it the first instance where Australia’s top three have all hit centuries.

Alex Carey finished strong with 50 not out, and together they smashed 18 sixes, which is also a record at home.

South Africa didn’t help their cause by sitting out fast bowlers Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi, as their backup bowlers were clearly outclassed.

After Marsh won the toss, the openers kicked things off with a bang, pushing Australia to 86 runs by the end of the 10-over powerplay.

Head was looking sharp, effortlessly smashing boundaries to bring up his half century in just 32 balls.

Meanwhile, Marsh hit two massive sixes, getting into the rhythm as he targeted the Proteas’ new ball duo of Kwena Maphaka and Wiaan Mulder.

As the bowlers struggled to find a solution, Head smoothly reached his seventh ODI century, taking an easy single off Senuran Muthusamy.

He then unleashed a flurry of powerful shots before being caught in the outfield by Dewald Brevis off Keshav Maharaj, having smashed 17 fours and five sixes.

Marsh quickly followed suit, reaching three figures, but was dismissed on the very next delivery, caught on the run by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton after hitting a high ball from Muthusamy.

But Green delivered an electrifying show of power hitting, smashing three massive sixes in a row off Muthusamy to secure his first ODI century.

Only Glenn Maxwell (40 balls) has managed to score a quicker hundred for Australia.

South Africa’s chase got off to a rough start, losing four wickets for just 50 runs within nine overs.

Sean Abbott took out Aiden Markram (two) and captain Temba Bavuma (19), while Xavier Bartlett dismissed Rickelton (11) and Tristan Stubbs (one).

The visitors were banking on Brevis, who lit up the field with his 49 runs before Green caught him on the ropes off Connolly, who then wrapped up the tail.

In the third ODI, the score was 2-1. Against South Africa, the Australians returned stronger.