AUS vs SA 2025, 2nd ODI Review: Breetzke, Stubbs, Ngidi help South Africa win series with a game to spare

South Africa beat Australia by 84 runs in the second ODI at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

After winning the first ODI by 98 runs, South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first. Temba Bavuma was rested for this match to manage his workload as he recovered from a hamstring strain, which he sustained during the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. Aiden Markram took over the reins as the stand-in captain.

However, the right-handed batter was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the second over. Fellow opener Ryan Rickelton departed in the sixth over. Xavier Bartlett sent both the openers packing.

Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke steadied the ship with a 67-run partnership off 62 balls. The former was dismissed after scoring a brisk 38 off 39 deliveries. Tristan Stubbs joined forces with Stubbs, and the two young batters took the attack to the Australian bowlers.

However, Nathan Ellis took the wickets of Breetzke and Dewald Brevis in consecutive overs. The former scored 88 off just 78 balls. Stubbs mixed caution with aggression and got himself to 74 off 87 balls.

Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj made important contributions down the order to help the Proteas get to 277 in 49.1 overs. Adam Zampa bagged a three-for, while Bartlett, Ellis, and Marnus Labuschagne took two wickets apiece.

Lungi Ngidi roars

South Africa took three wickets inside the powerplay, as Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Labuschagne couldn't make much of an impact. Cameron Green and Josh Inglis tried to help Australia recover from 38/3 inside 10 overs.

Inglis was the more aggressive batter in the partnership, while Green struggled to rotate strike. Senuran Muthusamy broke the 67-run stand as Green was dismissed for 35 off 54 balls.

Alex Carey and Aaron Hardie got themselves off to starts but couldn't capitalise. Inglis played counter-attacking cricket and got to 87 off 74 balls. However, Lungi Ngidi managed to dismiss him in the 36th over. The right-arm pacer took the final wicket of Adam Zampa to finish with figures of 5/42 in 8.4 overs. Australia were bowled out for 193 in 37.4 overs.

South Africa won the match by 84 runs, securing the series. They have now won their last five bilateral ODI series against Australia on the trot.