Australia deny South Africa sweep with rain-hit win in Potchefstroom

Australia denied South Africa a 3-0 sweep with a 45-run win under the rain formula in the third and final men's one-day international at Potchefstroom on 30 September.

The visitors finished the three-match series 2-1 down. South Africa had already sealed it with a 67-run win in Durban and a 32-run win in Johannesburg. This was Australia's reply.

Put in to bat after rain had already delayed the start by half an hour, Australia made 322 for nine from their 50 overs, their best batting display of the tour The Guardian. An ODI gives each side 50 overs, or 300 legal balls, to score as many runs as possible.

Mitch Marsh set the pace. The stand-in captain smashed 56 off 42 balls. It was his third fifty of the series after 60 and 84 in the first two games.

Alex Carey then held the middle overs together with 74 off 88 balls. He had luck on 11 when he survived an lbw shout because the ball had grazed his bat first. He later scooped seamer Nqobani Mokoena for six.

Carey found support from 20-year-old Ollie Peake, who made 48. The pair added 73 off 88 balls to keep Australia moving after the fast start. Corbin Bosch was South Africa's best bowler with four for 60 from nine overs.

South Africa's chase never got clean air. They slipped to 145 for four after 28 overs when rain returned and ended the match. Under DLS, cricket's rain calculator that resets the target when overs are lost, Australia were 45 runs ahead.

Ryan Rickelton kept the hosts in it with 71 not out off 81 balls. But Australia's bowlers struck regularly. Xavier Bartlett took two for 25 from five overs and Adam Zampa took two for 34 from six.

There was a familiar face back in Australian colours. Pat Cummins returned as a bowler only, sending down five overs for 17 runs without a wicket, while Marsh continued as captain.

South Africa made four changes, resting captain Temba Bavuma and player-of-the-series Keshav Maharaj. Australia also had injury worries on the day, with Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw both taking blows during the match.

What makes this stand out is the timing. Australia's middle overs had stalled badly earlier in the series, with only 37 runs between overs 30 and 40 in Durban and 35 in the same phase in Johannesburg. In Potchefstroom, Carey and Peake steadied that stretch and gave the lower order a platform.

For fans, this means a livelier finish to a one-sided week. South Africa take the series. Australia take some momentum. The Test summer is next.