The Australian men’s cricket team etched their name into the record books on Sunday, August 24, by achieving something no other side had managed before. They became the first team in history to defeat South Africa in a One Day International by a margin of more than 250 runs. While ODI cricket has witnessed such dominant victories on 14 previous occasions, this was the first time the South African team had suffered a loss of this scale in the 54-year history of the format.
The remarkable feat came during the third and final ODI of the series at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Australia’s top order produced a batting masterclass, piling up a mammoth 431 for the loss of just two wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Chasing an improbable target, South Africa faltered badly. They were bundled out for merely 155 runs in just 24.5 overs, giving Australia a colossal victory margin of 276 runs.
This triumph not only sealed the series for Australia but also marked their second biggest win in the ODI history. More significantly, it was their largest ever win on the home soil, surpassing the previous record margin of 275 runs achieved against Afghanistan during the 2015 World Cup in Perth.
Globally, India still holds the record for the biggest ODI win by runs. Earlier in January 2023, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India demolished Sri Lanka by 317 runs in Thiruvananthapuram. As for South Africa, their earlier heaviest defeat by runs came less than a year ago during the 2023 ODI World Cup. On that occasion, they were bowled out for just 83 runs against India in Kolkata, suffering a 243-run loss.
Australia’s dominant bowling performance in Mackay was spearheaded by spinner Cooper Connolly who produced career-best figures of five wickets for just 22 runs in six overs. Supporting him, Xavier Bartlett and Sean Abbott chipped in with two wickets each, ensuring South Africa had no chance of recovery.
It was a day of milestones for Australia, as their blend of power-hitting and incisive bowling combined to hand South Africa a defeat of historic proportions.
