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JJ Smuts leads South Africa to series whitewash over Australia

South Africa have won 11 of last 12 ODIs against Australia

Sunday 8 March 2020 05:59, UK

South Africa's batsman Jon-Jon Smuts celebrates a 50 during the third and final one-day international (ODI) between South Africa and Australia at Senwes Park on March 7, 2020 in Potchefstroom.
Image: JJ Smuts (r) and Heinrich Klaasen posted half-centuries in South Africa's win

JJ Smuts scored 84 runs and took 2-42 to lead South Africa to a six-wicket victory over Australia on Saturday to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.

SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED

After being sent into bat, Australia posted a below-par 254-7 in their 50 overs, with South African-born Marnus Labuschagne hitting a run-a-ball 108 to bolster an otherwise mediocre effort from the visitors.

The home side always looked in control of their chase, JJ Smuts playing the anchor role with a career-best score and ably supported by other new faces Kyle Verreynne (50) and Heinrich Klaasen (68 not out) as they romped to victory with 27 balls remaining.

South Africa continued their recent dominance of Australia in this format having won 11 of their last 12 ODI meetings dating back to 2016.

South Africa's batsman Kyle Verreynne (L) celebrates a 50 during the third and final one-day international (ODI) between South Africa and Australia at Senwes Park on March 7, 2020 in Potchefstroom.
Image: Kyle Verreynne celebrates his 50 during the third and final ODI

Australia struggled to get going in their innings, managing just 39 in the first 10 overs for the loss of David Warner (4), and were three down for the addition of another 16 runs as South Africa picked up the key wickets of Steve Smith (20) and captain Aaron Finch (22).

Finch was a debut wicket for South African seamer Daryn Dupavillon (1-21), who was in the team after the home side rested the spearhead of their attack, Lungi Ngidi.

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Labuschagne set about building the innings, though, as he put on 81 for the fourth wicket with D'Arcy Short (36) and 53 for the fifth with Mitchell Marsh (32).

Marnus Labuschagne of Australia celebrates his 100 runs during the 3rd ODI match between South Africa and Australia at Senwes Park on March 07, 2020 in Potchefstroom, South Africa
Image: Marnus Labuschagne celebrates his century in the third ODI against South Africa

He reached his maiden ODI century off exactly 100 balls, much to his delight and that of a sizeable group of family and friends in the stands.

South Africa's chase came at a good rate, with Smuts' 84 coming off 98 balls, including 12 fours, before he fell with his hundred, and victory, in sight.

He added 96 with Verreynne for the third wicket, a partnership that laid the platform for a comfortable victory as man-of-the-series Klaasen smashed the winning runs with a six to take his tally in the three matches to 242.

South Africa now embark on a three-game ODI tour of India starting on Thursday, while Australia return home to host New Zealand in a limited-overs tour beginning on Friday.

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