Warner's shoe too big to fill as Aussies suffer defeat

Australia's hopes of continuing their unbeaten run in South Africa turned on David Warner's flimsy right boot as a footwear mishap proved pivotal in the hosts keeping the ODI series alive with a 111-run win in Potchefstroom.

Warner's rapid half-century, from just 27 deliveries, had Australia fast rounding in on their biggest ever ODI run chase in the Rainbow Nation as they rollicked along at nearly nine an over in pursuit of 339.

But the 36-year-old slipped when his shoe, emblazoned with his wife's name 'Candy' on its side, fell off as he attempted a quick single. Keshav Maharaj's direct hit at the non-striker's end caught him short to spark a collapse of 7-70.

"I can't say we've seen that too many times in cricket," captain Mitch Marsh admitted after his side was rolled for 227.

Aiden Markram (102no from 74 balls) had carved up an Australian bowling attack missing its two lead spinners in Adam Zampa (rested) and Ashton Agar (soreness), bringing up his second ODI hundred from the final ball of the innings to fire the Proteas to 6-338.

The visitors relied instead on part-timer Travis Head (who impressed with 2-39) and debutant Tanveer Sangha (1-64), but the experience of spin pair Maharaj (2-37) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2-29) was telling on a slow pitch taking increasing turn as the day-night contest unfolded.  

Warner, fresh off blazing 106 in the second ODI, shot out of the blocks with a flurry of boundaries and found early support from in-form pair Travis Head (38 off 24) and captain Mitch Marsh (29 off 26).

But the Aussies never recovered after Warner's run-out mishap as their middle order floundered under lights.

Tim David's exit to a contentious low snare that not even substitute Bjorn Fortuin looked certain he had caught came as Marnus Labuschagne (15) and Marcus Stoinis (10) were both stumped, while Alex Carey (8) had his stumps rearranged by Gerald Coetzee, who took a career-best 4-50.

South Africa's victory was their first in either 20- or 50-over format during Australia's tour, setting the ODI series ledger at 2-1 with two games to play at Centurion and Johannesburg later this week.

Dropped third ball, and then again on 95, Markram delighted a vocal crowd by reaching triple figures with a straight boundary off Josh Hazlewood after facing up to the last ball of the innings on 98no.

That came on the back of openers Quinton de Kock (82 off 77) and Temba Bavuma (57 off 62) adding 146 in just 22.5 overs after the Proteas were inserted by Marsh.

In the ongoing absence of Glenn Maxwell, Head (2-39 from 10 overs) proved surprisingly effective and economical with the ball. His off-spinners accounted for de Kock against the run of play before pinning dangerman Heinrich Klaasen for a second-ball duck.

Sean Abbott (0-31) was only used for three overs with the paceman's most telling contribution instead coming on the off-side boundary, halting a rampant Marco Jansen (32 off 16) with an athletic one-handed catch.

Australia were sloppy at times in the field, with missed catches off Markram by Warner (at first slip when he was on two) and David (at long-on, on 95) proving costly, but Abbott's grab and Labuschagne's direct-hit run-out of Reeza Hendricks (39 off 45) kept Australia from facing an even bigger target.

Markram's first life had come off a fizzing leg-break from Tanveer, who beat the bat several times and had Bavuma out caught, but otherwise struggled to match the control regularly offered by the man who presented his cap before play, Zampa.

2023 Qantas ODIs v South Africa

September 7: Australia won by three wickets

September 9: Australia won by 123 runs

September 12: South Africa won by 111 runs

September 15: Fourth ODI, Centurion (D/N), 9pm AEST

September 17: Fifth ODI, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Tanveer Sangha, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Brjor Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen