Labuschagne and Agar turn things around for Aussies

Marnus Labuschagne came on as a concussion substitute to steer Australia to a three-wicket win over South Africa in a one-day international on Thursday, leaving Australia’s selectors with thinking to do ahead of next month’s World Cup in India.Labuschagne replaced Cameron Green, hit on the head by a rising delivery from Kagiso Rabada, and made a match-winning 80 not out to see Australia to their target after putting South Africa into bat and dismissing them for 222.Australia, who secured victory with nine overs to spare, had been in serious trouble at 113-7 as they plundered early runs but also lost a steady stream of wickets.Labuschagne was the first ever Test concussion substitute at Lord’s in the 2019 Ashes, when he replaced Steve Smith and made 59, and looked at ease when he took over from Green.Labuschagne’s unbeaten 112-run eighth-wicket partnership with Ashton Agar guided Australia to victory in the first game of the five-match series and reminded the Australian selectors, who left him out of the World Cup squad, of his prowess.His innings squeezed the energy out of an excited home attack, who had early inroads as they looked to defend a modest total. Agar contributed 48 not out.Earlier, South African captain Temba Bavuma carried his bat for a defiant century as his team were bowled out for 222.Bavuma opened the batting and made an unbeaten 114 while his teammates crumbled against accurate bowling on a slow, dry pitch with uneven bounce.Josh Hazlewood set the tone with the new ball, allowing only one scoring stroke in his first three overs.With the Cricket World Cup less than a month away, three key South African batsmen returned to the team but Quinton de Kock (11), Heinrich Klaasen (14) and David Miller (0) were unable to make an impact.Marco Jansen, batting at number seven, made 32 and helped Bavuma add 57 for the sixth wicket. Mitchell Marsh, captaining Australia for the first time in an ODI, rotated his bowlers in short spells and the South Africans struggled to build any momentum before Bavuma went on the attack during a last-wicket stand of 37 with Lungi Ngidi, who was last man out without scoring.Bavuma was dropped on two when Agar put down a diving chance at backward point off Sean Abbott.He survived again on 88, with Ngidi at the wicket, when he top-edged a slog against leg-spinner Adam Zampa and wicketkeeper Alex Carey spilled a straightforward chance.Two overs later, Bavuma hit Zampa for six and four to raise his fifth one-day international century.He finished with 14 fours and a six off 142 balls despite struggling with cramp towards the end of the innings.The second ODI is also at Bloemfontein tomorrow.BRIEF SCORESSouth Africa 222 in 49 overs (T. Bavuma 114 not out) v Australia 225-7 in 40.2 overs (M. Labuschagne 80 not out, A. Agar 48 not out).Result: Australia won by three wickets.Series: Australia lead the five-match series 1-0.Toss: Australia.Remaining matches:September 9: BloemfonteinSeptember 12: PotchefstroomSeptember 15: CenturionSeptember 17: Johannesburg