Ngidi Secures Player of the Match with Five-Wicket Haul

MACKAY: South Africa defeated Australia by a commanding 84 runs in the second ODI at the Great Barrier Reef Arena on Friday, thanks to half-centuries from Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs, complemented by Lungi Ngidi’s impressive five-wicket performance.

This victory gives the Proteas an insurmountable 2-0 series lead over the Australians. The final match is scheduled for Sunday at the same location.

Aiden Markram, South Africa’s interim captain, elected to bat first, a decision that proved fruitful as his team accumulated a total of 277 in 49.1 overs on a challenging pitch.

The Proteas faced an unsteady beginning, falling to 23/2 in 5.4 overs after the quick dismissals of Markram (zero) and Ryan Rickelton (eight).

Following this shaky start, Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi formed a stabilizing 67-run partnership for the third wicket, improving South Africa’s position.

Adam Zampa broke the partnership by catching and bowling de Zorzi on the last ball of the 16th over. De Zorzi contributed a valuable 38 runs from 39 balls.

Breetzke continued to strengthen South Africa’s innings, adding an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket before being dismissed by Nathan Ellis in the 31st over.

He led the scoring with 88 runs off 78 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes.

Stubbs remained steady, forming smaller partnerships with Dewald Brevis (one), Wiaan Mulder (26), and Senuran Muthusamy (four) before Zampa ended his innings.

Stubbs hit three fours and a six, scoring 74 runs from 87 balls.

Following Stubbs’s dismissal, Keshav Maharaj, the number nine batter, added a crucial 22 not out.

Zampa claimed three wickets for Australia, while Marnus Labuschagne, Xavier Bartlett, and Ellis each took two. Josh Hazlewood secured one wicket.

In their chase of 278, Australia was bowled out for just 193 in 37.4 overs, resulting in a significant defeat.

Josh Inglis fought valiantly for the hosts, scoring a spirited 87 off 74 balls, including twelve fours and two sixes.

Cameron Green also contributed with 35 runs from 54 balls, and he and Inglis added 67 runs for the fourth wicket.

Lungi Ngidi was South Africa’s most effective bowler, achieving figures of 5/42 in 8.4 overs. Muthusamy and Nandre Burger supported him with two wickets each, and Mulder took one.

Ngidi was named Player of the Match for his match-winning bowling effort.