Marques Ackerman's 95 Fires South Africa 1st to Victory
South Africa 1st
329/10 (82.3)
South Africa
429/10 (125.1)
South Africa won by 176 runs
View full scorecard →South Africa 1st have won by 184 runs. South Africa 1st batted first and posted 329/10 in 82.3 overs. Australia 1st, chasing 330, fell short at 145/2 in 36.3 overs.
Marques Ackerman was the standout in the first innings, scoring 95 off 94 balls (SR 101). 2 sixes and 12 fours provided the impetus. The powerplay yielded 23 runs — early wickets put them under pressure from the start.
Cameron Green fought hard with 50 off 65 balls, but it was not enough to haul Australia 1st over the line. The required rate climbed too steeply in the end.
With the ball, Mitchell Starc delivered figures of 6/72 in 16.3 overs (Econ 4.4). A match-defining spell that tore through the batting order.
With the series level at 0-0, the next match promises to be an absolute cracker.
The Turning Point
Over 25 of the first innings was the inflection point — 18 runs came off it, shifting the momentum and setting the stage for a total that ultimately proved too much.
Key Performers
95 off 94 balls (SR 101), 12 fours, 2 sixes
6/72 in 16.3 overs (Econ: 4.36)
78 off 141 balls (SR 55), 10 fours, 1 sixes
Verdict
South Africa 1st showed composure when it mattered most and deserve this victory. Australia 1st were outplayed in all departments. A 184 runs defeat lays bare the gaps in their game — the batting lacked application and the bowling had no answers. Plenty of hard conversations ahead of the next match. With the series level at 0-0, the next match promises to be an absolute cracker.