David Warner’s brilliant 173 was not enough to save Australia from a 32-run defeat by South Africa in the fifth and final one-day International at Newlands yesterday.
The loss completed a first ever 5-0 one-day bilateral series defeat for the Australians, who were bowled out for 296 chasing 328 for victory.
Warner bludgeoned 24 boundaries in his 136-ball stay at the crease before falling five short of his highest ODI score.
He was dismissed with 17 balls remaining, run out by Imran Tahir’s throw from the boundary as he chased a suicidal second run to keep the strike with Australia still needing 40 to win.
Warner’s effort was made more remarkable by the fact that the next highest score in the Australian innings was 35, managed by both Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head.
Tahir, who had a number of verbal altercations with Warner, was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-42 in his 10 overs.
Earlier, Rilee Rossouw made 122 in a South African total of 327 for eight. He and fellow left-hander JP Duminy (73) transformed the South African innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 178 after the hosts lost their first three wickets for 52 runs.
Australia’s bowlers made a good start after South Africa won the toss, with Scott Boland having Quinton de Kock caught at cover and Joe Mennie bowling both Hashim Amla and South African captain Faf du Plessis.
Mennie, who conceded 82 runs without taking a wicket in his only previous international in Johannesburg, also ended the Rossouw-Duminy stand when Duminy was caught at backward point. He was the best of the Australian bowlers, taking three for 49.
Chris Tremain, another bowler who made his debut during the series, also took three wickets, aided by two in his last over. He conceded 64 runs.
Rossouw hit the ball with great power in making his runs off 118 balls with 14 fours and two sixes, while Duminy was the ideal partner with a combination of silky stroke play and good running between the wickets. Their partnership was worth 178 off 170 balls.
South Africa’s total was the third-highest recorded in a one-day international at Newlands.
The sides will clash again next month when South Africa visit Australia for three tests starting on November 3, including a day/night game in Adelaide.

Scorecard

South Africa
Q. de Kock c Marsh b Boland 12
H. Amla b Mennie 25
R. Rossouw c Marsh b Tremain 122
F. du Plessis b Mennie 11
J. Duminy c Bailey b Mennie 73
D. Miller c Smith b Tremain 39
A. Phehlukwayo b Boland 11
K. Rabada not out 9
K. Abbott c Wade b Tremain 0
D. Steyn not out 6
Extras (b6, lb5, w8) 19
Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 327
Fall of wickets: 1-37 (De Kock), 2-37 (Amla), 3-52 (Du Plessis), 4-230 (Duminy), 5-281 (Rossouw), 6-306 (Phehlukwayo), 7-308 (Miller), 8-309 (Abbott)
Bowling: Tremain 10-0-64-3 (2w), Boland 10-0-68-2 (1w), Mennie 10-2-49-3 (1w), Marsh 7-0-53-0, Head 8-0-49-0 (3w), Zampa 5-0-33-0 (1w)

Australia
D. Warner run out (Tahir) 173
A. Finch b Tahir 19
S. Smith b Tahir 0
G. Bailey b Phehlukwayo 2
M. Marsh b Rabada 35
T. Head c De Kock b Abbott 35
M. Wade c De Kock b Abbott 7
J. Mennie c Miller b Rabada 0
C. Tremain run out (Phehlukwayo) 0
A. Zampa not out 6
S. Boland run out (Rossouw) 4
Extras (lb7, nb1, w7) 15
Total (48.2 overs) 296
Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Finch), 2-72 (Smith), 3-75 (Bailey), 4-139 (Marsh), 5-229 (Head), 6-248 (Wade), 7-249 (Mennie), 8-261 (Tremain), 9-288 (Warner)
Bowling: Abbott 10-1-48-2, Rabada 9-0-84-2 (1nb, 4w), Steyn 9.2-0-56-0 (1w), Tahir 10-1-42-2, Phehlukwayo 9-1-51-1 (2w), Duminy 1-0-8-0

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