Australia's Head, Marsh and Green smash centuries to put Proteas bowlers under pressure

The Proteas’ makeshift attack were put to the sword by the Australian batters in the third and final ODI in Mackay on Sunday. 

Travis Head (142 off 103 balls, 17x4, 5x6), Mitchell Marsh (100 off 106 balls (6x4, 5x6) and Cameron Green (118*, 55 balls, 6x4, 8x6) all struck magnificent centuries with Alex Carey also contributing an unbeaten 50 (37 balls) to power Australia to 431/2. 

The Proteas rested seamers Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger and recalled Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen are also unavailable due to injury. 

Australia’s openers Head and Marsh licked their lips in anticipation with Maphaka and allrounder Wiaan Mulder handed the new ball. The Aussies’ intent was clear from the outset with Head getting off the mark with a boundary off the very first ball of the innings.

The attacking left-hander drilled another straight past Maphaka four balls later for the second boundary of the opening over. 

The Australian opening pair dominated the Powerplay, with Head in particular in a belligerent mood, as the home team brought up the first 50 in just 5.1 overs and 100 in 12.1 overs.

Head’s personal half-century required just 32 balls (9x4, 1x6). Marsh was almost pedestrian at a strike-rate of 100 after he brought his 50 off the exact number of balls, despite striking three towering sixes and three boundaries.

The carnage continued with Head raising his bat for his seventh ODI century off just 80 balls.

The Proteas’ finally tasted success after Australia brought up their 250 in just 34 overs when Head holed out to Dewald Brevis on the boundary off Keshav Maharaj.

The Aussie skipper Marsh, however, followed his opening partner shortly afterwards when he top-edged an attempted sweep off Senuran Muthusamy, but not before he too celebrated his fourth ODI century. 

The Proteas’ relief was a brief intermission though with Green and Alex Carey sharing a brilliant unbroken 164-run stand off just 82 balls.

Green was in belligerent form as he brought up his century off just 47 balls.

SCORECARD 

Australia:  431/2 (Head 142, Green 118*, Marsh 100, Carey 50*, Maharaj 1/57)