South Africa defeats Australia by 84 runs in second ODI

Just as they had three nights earlier in Cairns, the Aussies fell well short of a target set by South Africa, who took an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of Sunday’s series finale, also at Great Barrier Reef Arena.

Set 278, Josh Inglis played a lone hand for the hosts with a creative 87 from 74 balls, but his departure - caught behind off a bottom edge from Lungi Nigidi — with 94 runs still required all but ensured the Proteas would claim a fifth consecutive bilateral one-day series against Australia, a run stretching back to 2016.

It was all over soon enough, with Australia bowled out for 193 in the 38th over, losing by 84 runs after a 98-run loss in the series opener.

It could have been even worse for the Aussies given Tristan Stubbs dropped both Mitch Marsh and Cam Green early in their respective innings.

Travis Head, Alex Carey and Aaron Hardie all missed out again too, but it was the form of Labuschagne that is most noteworthy.

This series had shaped as a timely opportunity for the dumped Test batter to begin his charge back into the lineup for the Ashes, however a second consecutive score of one did nothing to engender confidence that the tide is about to turn.

Undone by spin in Cairns, Labuschagne this time tickled an attempted drive from Ngidi, who finished with 5-42 in a dominant display.

All-rounder Hardie has meanwhile effectively become a liability, barely used with the ball and then gone for 10 after falling caught and bowled to an Ngidi variation.

Things had been more promising earlier in the day for Labuschagne, who took 2-19 from five overs.

From a strong platform of 3-179 in the 31st over, the Proteas stumbled their way to 277, bowled out in the final over.

Labuschagne’s late-innings strikes followed the outstanding early work of Xavier Bartlett, who kept up his brilliant record in ODIs by removing South African openers Aiden Markram (duck) and Ryan Rickleton (eight).

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Unlucky not to have played another ODI since a dominant debut series against the West Indies early in 2024, the Queensland swing merchant put the Proteas on the back foot after stand-in skipper Markram won the toss, with Temba Bavuma rested to manage his lingering hamstring concern.

The tourists also opted to leave out off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen who had been cited for a suspect bowling action following South Africa’s win in the first match of the series.

Subrayen remained eligible to play in the remaining matches of the series but he will play no further part on this tour before his action is tested by an independent assessor.