Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green’s centuries have stormed into the record books.
On home soil, Australia had previously been bowled out under 200 in four consecutive ODIs. This time, they amassed 431 runs in 50 overs for the loss of just two wickets! All three of their opening batsmen contributed centuries, etching this innings across many pages of the record books.
In the third and final ODI against South Africa in Mackay on Sunday, Australia won the toss and batted to score over 400. Travis Head scored 142 off 103 balls, Mitchell Marsh made 100 off 106 balls, and Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 118 off just 55 balls.
Three Centuries
This marks only the fifth instance in ODI history where three batsmen scored centuries in a single innings, and it’s a first for Australia.
All four of the previous instances involved South Africa, but this was a first against them for Australia. The first occurrence was by South Africa in January 2015 in Johannesburg against the West Indies, with Hashim Amla (153*), Rilee Rossouw (128), and AB de Villiers (149) all reaching triple figures. In that match, de Villiers also set the world record for the fastest ODI century in just 31 balls.
Later in October 2015 at Wankhede, against India, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (109), Faf du Plessis (133), and AB de Villiers (119) all scored centuries. England also achieved this against the Netherlands in 2022 with Phil Salt (122), Dawid Malan (125), and Jos Buttler (162*). In the 2023 World Cup in Delhi, South Africa’s de Kock (100), Rassie van der Dussen (108), and Aiden Markram (106) hit three-figure scores.
Opening Stand of 250
Head and Marsh added 250 runs off 205 balls for the opening wicket. This was Australia’s fifth opening partnership to surpass 250 in ODIs, with previous instances involving David Warner (two times), Head (two times), Marsh (once), and Aaron Finch (once). The highest opening stand for Australia came in 2017 in Adelaide, when Head and Warner put together 284 against Pakistan.
This is the highest opening partnership against South Africa in ODI history. The previous record was 206 by Vikram Solanki and Marcus Trescothick at The Oval in 2003. Only two higher partnerships against South Africa exist, both by Pakistan: Abdul Razzaq and Saleem Elahi’s 257-run second-wicket stand in 2002 at Port Elizabeth, and Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha’s 260-run fourth-wicket partnership in Karachi earlier this year.
Century at Lightning Speed
Cameron Green, batting at number three, scored his century in just 47 balls, marking Australia’s second-fastest ODI century. Glenn Maxwell holds the fastest record, scoring a 40-ball century against the Netherlands in the 2023 World Cup. Green now ranks joint 11th in the list of fastest ODI centuries globally but holds the record for the fastest century against South Africa. The previous record was Matthew Hayden’s 66-ball century in the 2007 World Cup.
Green also became the fastest century-maker in ODIs on Australian soil, surpassing Maxwell’s 51-ball century against Sri Lanka in Sydney in 2015.
Sixes Galore
Australia hit 18 sixes in the innings, the second-highest in a single ODI against South Africa. England had hit 19 sixes in Kimberley in 2023.
Crossing 400 Again
Australia crossed the 400-run mark in an ODI for the third time. Their highest score against South Africa remains 434 in Johannesburg in 2006, though they lost that match. This innings also ranks as Australia’s second-highest total for the loss of two or fewer wickets, after South Africa’s 439/2 against the West Indies in 2015.
