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‘Ye series toh badiya hogayi ab’ – Fans react to South Africa levelling ODI series versus Australia with massive 164-run win

South Africa have levelled the five-match series versus Australia and the fifth match of the ODI series will decide the winner.

by
September 16, 2023

During the fourth one-day international, Heinrich Klaasen scored an incredible 83-ball 174 to lead South Africa to a 164-run victory over Australia, tying the series at 2-2 going into the final match on Sunday.

On Friday, the Proteas scored a massive 416-5, mostly due to Klaasen, who batted at No. 5 and scored the fourth-highest ODI performance by a South African player with 13 fours and 13 sixes.

Having led the South Africans towards their third-highest ODI total, he got caught at the boundary rope off the last delivery of the innings. He had a stellar 222-run partnership with David Miller. They added 164 runs in the final nine overs which shows us just a glimpse of the destruction caused by the two middle order batters.

The Australians started to go big in the run-chase right from the start but it came at a massive cost as it caused Travis Head to fracture his hand, which has complicated Australia’s World Cup preparations.

Australia suffer massive blow in 164-run defeat

Gerald Coetzee struck Head on the left hand painfully, ending his night and perhaps his World Cup hopes. Head retired injured at 17 and did not return to bat again for the rest of the innings. The opener attempted to bat for a further two overs before clearly feeling uncomfortable.

Australia’s misery came to an end when Carey nicked Kagiso Rabada into a diving Quinton de Kock. Despite Alex Carey’s outstanding 99-run performance, Australia was eventually bowled out for 252 within 34.5 overs and the side never looked in contention to win the total

This was Australia’s second loss by over 100 runs in three days which sparks real concern about the Australian team’s preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Some of their key players are still on the sidelines and their return to the team might rejuvenate them, when they face India in their next ODI assignment which starts on 22nd September.

Fans react to South Africa levelling ODI series versus Australia with massive 164-run win:

Heartbreak for Alex Carey….!!!
The lone warrior of Australia tonight departs for 99 in just 77 balls. Australia lost the 4th ODI by 164 runs. pic.twitter.com/qe7gEpLpYE
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 15, 2023