Carey and Marsh lead Australia to rain-hit ODI win over South Africa

Australia won the third and final one-day international against South Africa by 45 runs under the DLS method in Potchefstroom on Wednesday. Rain ended the hosts' chase at 145 for four after 28 overs, following Australia's 322 for nine. South Africa nevertheless finished with a 2-1 series victory, as reported by Telecom Asia.

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Mitchell Marsh provided the early impetus with 56 from 42 balls, while Travis Head contributed 24 in an opening partnership of 78. Cricbuzz's scorecard records that Australia subsequently slipped to 118 for three, with Marsh dismissed by Bjorn Fortuin and Cooper Connolly bowled by Gerald Coetzee for 23.

Alex Carey then gave the innings stability, making 74 from 88 deliveries. As detailed in NewsBytes' reporting, he shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 73 with Oliver Peake before adding another 66 alongside Matt Renshaw. Those two stands carried Australia from a position of three wickets down into the closing stages with a platform for a total above 300, rather than leaving the lower order to rebuild.

Peake fell two runs short of a half-century, and Renshaw made 30. Corbin Bosch finished with four wickets for 60 runs from nine overs, removing Head, Peake, Carey and Cameron Green. Coetzee and Lizaad Williams took two wickets apiece, while Australia completed their full 50 overs despite losing wickets late in the innings.

Xavier Bartlett struck twice early in the reply, dismissing Quinton de Kock without scoring and Aiden Markram for 15. Adam Zampa later removed Matthew Breetzke for 25 and Tristan Stubbs for 14. Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 71 from 81 balls, but his innings could not put South Africa ahead when the weather intervened. Bartlett finished with two for 25 and Zampa two for 34.

Pat Cummins also delivered five overs for just 17 runs, although he did not take a wicket. The teams now turn to the Test leg of the tour. Cricket South Africa's published schedule lists the opening Test at Kingsmead in Durban from October 9, following the conclusion of the three-match ODI series.