Watch: Australia beat South Africa by 123 runs to go 2-0 up in the five-match ODI series. Watch the SA v AUS highlights here.
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In an encore of the first ODI, Australia came out all guns blazing in the second after Temba Bavuma put them in. However, unlike the first, they got an easier surface at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
Travis Head (64 in 36 balls) and David Warner (106 in 93) added 109 in 65 balls before Tabraiz Shamsi took out Head and Mitchell Marsh with consecutive deliveries.
But the Australians did not stop hitting. Marnus Labuschagne came at No.4 to carve a 99-ball 124, while Josh Inglis hammered away to a 37-ball 50. Australia did not let the run rate drop, and finished with 392-8 as Shamsi returned 4-61.
Quinton de Kock (45 in 30 balls) and Bavuma (46 in 40) led the South African response, adding 81 for the first wicket in 55 balls before they slipped to 119-4.
Rassie van der Dussen (49 in 36 balls) and David Miller (49 in 52) added 58 in quick time, while Marco Jansen chipped in with a 28-ball 23. In the end, however, they could not get that one big, rapid partnership teams need in chases this enormous.
They were eventually bowled out for 269 inside 42 overs as Adam Zampa finished with 4-48. The pacers – Sean Abbott (2-50), Nathan Ellis (2-32), and Aaron Hardie (2-62) – shared the other six wickets.
Australia opened bowling with Head’s off-breaks, and gave Labuschagne’s leg-breaks a chance as well later in the day – presumably because they may need to bowl at the World Cup if Zampa plays as the only spinner.
Coming in as concussion substitute for Cam Green in the previous ODI, Labuschagne had helped Australia win, and was named Player of the Match for his efforts. He won the award here as well.
