Miller and Bavuma centuries seal South Africa’s ODI series win over Australia
JOHANNESBURG, September 27, 2026 — David Miller and Temba Bavuma struck contrasting centuries as South Africa beat Australia by 32 runs in the second one-day international at the Wanderers. The hosts posted 365 for nine, then bowled Australia out for 333 with one ball remaining to take an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series.
Australia had reason to believe it could chase the target. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head put on 130 for the first wicket, taking 77 from the opening 10 overs. But South Africa’s spinners disrupted the chase after that fast start, removing established batters and slowing the scoring through the middle overs.
Two centuries turn an early setback into a commanding total
Australia chose to bowl and struck with the first delivery when Josh Hazlewood removed Aiden Markram for a duck. Hazlewood also dismissed Quinton de Kock for 15, leaving South Africa 36 for two in the seventh over. Matthew Breetzke made a brisk 34, but his departure at 93 for three gave Australia another opening.
Bavuma had already begun to steady the innings. When Miller joined him, the pair added 156 runs for the fourth wicket in 132 balls. Their approaches complemented each other: Bavuma stayed long enough to rebuild the innings and made 103 from 116 deliveries, while Miller accelerated to a career-best 142 from 93 balls.
Miller hit 12 fours and nine sixes, converting the recovery into a total that demanded a sustained attacking chase. Bavuma’s century gave South Africa stability after the early wickets; Miller’s scoring rate ensured that stability did not come at the cost of momentum. Even after Bavuma fell with the score on 249, Miller kept the pressure on Australia’s bowlers. Marco Jansen added 19 and Duan Jansen finished unbeaten on 27 to help push the total to 365.
Jack Edwards took five wickets for 67 runs, an impressive return in just his second ODI, and Hazlewood finished with three for 70. Those figures reflected Australia’s ability to take wickets, but not to contain the scoring once Bavuma and Miller had settled. The match was played on South Africa’s Pink Day, with the home side wearing shirts bearing the names of breast cancer fighters and survivors.
Spin checks Australia’s chase
Marsh led Australia’s reply with 84 from 53 balls, hitting five sixes. Head made 84 from 76. Their opening stand brought the target within sight, but it also left the rest of the batting order with a demanding task once South Africa broke through.
Bjorn Fortuin bowled Marsh at 130 for one. Cooper Connolly fell to seamer Lizaad Williams, and Markram’s off-spin trapped Head lbw with Australia 191 for three after 25 overs. Keshav Maharaj then dismissed Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw, preventing Australia from turning its strong start into a commanding position. Fortuin later removed Cameron Green as the visitors slipped to 251 for six.
The change was as much about scoring as wickets. South Africa used 30 overs of spin from Fortuin, Maharaj and Markram. Maharaj returned two for 54, Fortuin two for 70 and Markram one for 55. Australia struggled to maintain the pace set by its openers while keeping wickets in hand, allowing the required rate to rise despite having been 130 without loss.
Xavier Bartlett briefly revived the chase with 50 from 28 balls, including five sixes, and shared a 61-run stand with Edwards. By then, Australia had little room for another setback. Williams removed Bartlett and finished with three for 54; the last wicket fell in the final over.
South Africa had won the opener in Durban by 67 runs, so the Johannesburg result settled the series before the final ODI in Potchefstroom on September 30. The second match showed why the lead was secure: Bavuma and Miller turned early batting trouble into a daunting target, then South Africa’s spinners took control just as Australia’s chase appeared most promising.
