Marsh laments Australia’s collapse as South Africa win opening ODI in Durban

In Durban on 24 September 2026, South Africa defeated Australia by 67 runs in the opening One-Day International, the hosts 297-8 to Australia’s 230. The result came after a troubled run chase that ended with Australia all out in 41.2 overs.

South Africa were inserted by stand-in skipper Mitch Marsh and compiled 297-8, helped principally by Matthew Breetzke’s 112 and Marco Jansen’s 75 off 59. Marsh was again leading the side while Pat Cummins was rested, and Australia have not won a bilateral series in South Africa since 2014.

Marsh provided Australia’s main batting resistance with a 36-ball 60 that included three sixes; one of those cleared the dressing-room roof at Kingsmead, travelled 104 metres and landed at the roadside. He put on an opening stand of 90 in 9.2 overs with Travis Head, who made 36, while Cooper Connolly contributed 38 and Matt Renshaw 44.

The two slow left-armers for South Africa, Kehav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin, constricted the chase, finishing with figures of 4-20 and 2-34 respectively. Josh Inglis was dismissed playing a reverse sweep — the eighth ball he faced — and Australia’s last six wickets fell for 54, ending the innings prematurely.

A pivotal moment arrived when Marco Jansen took a running, diving, one-handed catch in the outfield to dismiss Matt Renshaw off Gerald Coetzee, leaving Australia 215-7. That wicket proved decisive as the tourists were unable to recover.

After the loss Marsh sighed: "I’m pretty disappointed, South Africa outplayed us. It was a good game of cricket, but we fell well short. "We had our opportunities, I am probably going to sound like a broken record speaking about having partnerships in our batting, but we weren’t able to form many tonight."

The opening defeat hands South Africa the first win in the three-match series and increases pressure on Australia to respond at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday, when Pat Cummins is set to be recalled.