Australia Crushes South Africa in 3rd ODI, Avoids Clean Sweep; Sets Record Victory Margin

Mackay, August 24 (TNA) Australia produced a sensational fightback in the third and final ODI at Mackay, registering a massive 276-run win over South Africa to prevent a series whitewash. Despite the defeat, South Africa clinched the series 2-1, but the final match left them with one of the most embarrassing records in their ODI history.

Batting first, Australia piled up a mammoth 431/2 in 50 overs, powered by centuries from Travis Head (142), captain Mitchell Marsh (100), and Cameron Green (118).* The Proteas, in response, collapsed miserably, bowled out for just 155 runs in 24.5 overs.

This 276-run thrashing is South Africa’s heaviest defeat in ODIs, surpassing their previous worst 243-run loss to India at Eden Gardens in 2023. For Australia, this stands as their second-biggest ODI victory margin ever, just behind their 309-run demolition of the Netherlands in Delhi at the 2023 World Cup.

South Africa’s biggest ODI defeats (by runs):

276 vs Australia, Mackay, 2025*

243 vs India, Kolkata, 2023

182 vs Pakistan, Port Elizabeth, 2002

180 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo RPS, 2013

With this result, South Africa extended their dominance in bilateral ODI series against Australia, winning 9 out of 15 series overall, the most by any team.