Australia v South Africa: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green deliver powerful blows to inflict record 276-run ODI defeat on team

England face South Africa in three ODIs and three T20s starting on September 2. All six games will be available live on Sky Sports as the teams ramp up their form ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Pictured: Australia achieved their second-biggest lead in ODI history, beating South Africa by 276 runs.

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green all hit hundreds as Australia cruised to a comfortable 276-run win over South Africa in the third ODI in Mackay.

Despite the series already being lost, the Australians showed strength of character by finishing the tournament with a strong performance.

The decisive partnership was Head (142) and Marsh (100), who added 250, followed by a spectacular display from Green, which allowed the team to post an impressive total of 431-2.

3rd ODI Results: Australia vs South Africa, Mackay

Australia 431-2 in 50 overs: Travis Head (142), Mitchell Marsh (100), Cameron Green (118); Keshav Maharaj (1-57), Senuran Muthusamy (1-75).

South Africa 155 in 24.5 overs: Dewald Brewis (49), Tony de Zorzi (33); Cooper Connolly (5-22), Sean Abbott (2-27), Xavier Bartlett (2-45).

The Australians hit the second-highest number of sixes in ODI history (18), behind only their own record of 434 against the same opponents in 2006.

In response, South Africa were bowled out for 155 in less than 25 overs, with spin bowler Connolly (5-22) leaving the team pondering the upcoming series against England on Sky Sports – their heaviest ODI defeat.

England announce squads for South Africa series
England Men's Cricket Schedule and Results 2025
Don't have a Sky subscription? Watch the games without a long-term commitment

Twitter. This content is provided by Twitter, which may use cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your consent to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to change your settings and enable Twitter cookies or allow them just once. You can change your settings at any time in your privacy settings. Sorry, we couldn't verify whether you consented to Twitter's use of cookies. To view this content, you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable cookies Allow cookies once

Electing to bat first, Head and Marsh quickly put on 86 in the first 10 overs, setting an aggressive tone against a South Africa attack weakened by the absence of Kagiso Rabada and the rested Lungi Ngidi.

By the 13th over the Australians had reached 100 and Head completed his century in 80 deliveries, later surpassing his tally against spinner Senuran Muthusamy.

The team had reached 250 by the 34th over but soon lost Hed, who was dismissed by Keshav Maharaj after hitting five sixes and 17 fours.

In photo: Cameron Green celebrates his maiden ODI century.

Marsh, who also hit five sixes, completed a century before being run out after a miss by Muthusamy. Green, who had taken the initiative, continued the assault, hitting eight sixes in his sensational unbeaten 118 in 55 deliveries. Alex Carey kept up the pace, remaining unbeaten on 50.

Pictured: Cooper Connolly made five dismissals to ensure Australia dominated.

South Africa lost four wickets by the ninth over (50-4) and could not recover. Brief resistance from Dewald Brewis (49) and Tony de Zorzi (33) could not save the team from defeat thanks to Connolly's accurate bowling.

South Africa squad for England tour (ODI)

Themba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Britzke, Dewald Brewis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Mafaka, Aiden Markram, Vian Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Luan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

South Africa squad for England tour (T20)

Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Mafaka, David Miller, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Luan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Lisaad Williams.