Faf du Plessis hits ton as South Africa rout Australia in Johannesburg

South Africa 361-6 (du Plessis 111) beat
Australia 219 (Head 51) by 142 runs
Second One-Day International, Johannesburg
Scorecard

Riding on a fantastic ton from Faf du Plessis, South Africa set a target of 362 runs and went on to bundle Australia out for 219 runs in 37.4 overs to secure a massive 142-run win in the second One-Day International in Johannesburg.

Earlier in the day, crucial knocks from Rilee Rossouw and JP Duminy complemented du Plessis’ century as South Africa put on yet another solid batting display.

Bowling first, Australia were unable to find the right lengths as the debutants Chris Tremain (1-78) and Joe Mennie (0-82) found it tough to rein in the openers.

Quinton de Kock (22) and Rossouw (75) raced away to a 70-run stand in 11 overs before the former was dismissed. Rossouw joined hands with du Plessis (111) to share a 76-run stand.

After completing his fifty, Rossouw attempted to accelerate and fell in the 25th over as South Africa reached 148 for two at the half-way mark.

Soon after du Plessis completed his fifty, Duminy (82) settled down nicely and shifted gears as the game approached the death overs.

Duminy first completed his fifty in 44 balls, following which du Plessis reached an 84-ball century, pushing South Africa to 264 for two in 40 overs.

Duminy scored three sixes and two fours in the next two overs but was castled by Mitchell Marsh (2-68).
Australia managed to pull things back with the wickets of du Plessis, Farhaan Behardien (13) and David Miller (26) but South Africa went ahead to post 361 for six in 50 overs.

In the chase, Australia found it tough to get going as Aaron Finch (1), Steven Smith (14) and George Bailey (9) were all dismissed inside 11 overs, with the score at 55.

David Warner (50) rallied along with Marsh (19) to prevent a total collapse for a brief while. Marsh also failed to convert his start while Warner fell soon after his fifty to leave Australia at 114 for five in 20.5 overs.

Matthew Wade (33) and Travis Head (51) fought back with a 69-run stand but the asking rate kept climbing, with Australia needing 184 runs from the last 20 overs.

South Africa once again asserted their dominance as Head and Wade fell in the space of four balls.
Australia never managed to recover and lost the last three wickets in the space of four overs and were bowled out for 219 runs in 37.4 overs.

Wayne Parnell (3-40) and Kagiso Rabada (2-31) shared five wickets between them. With this 142-run win South Africa took a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.

Du Plessis took home the man of the match award for his century.

© Cricket World 2016