Australia’s struggles in One Day Internationals (ODIs) continued as they suffered an 84-run defeat to South Africa in Mackay on March 15, 2024. This loss marks Australia’s seventh setback in their last eight ODIs, granting South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The match highlighted ongoing issues within the Australian batting lineup, particularly in the wake of the recent retirements of key players such as Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell.
Chasing a target of 279 runs, Australia’s innings faltered early. The team lost both Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne within the first four overs, leaving them in a precarious position. Only Josh Inglis showed resilience, scoring 87 runs off 74 balls before falling to a catch behind off fast bowler Lungi Ngidi. Once Inglis was dismissed, Australia collapsed, losing four wickets for just nine runs, ending their innings in the 38th over.
South Africa set a challenging total after choosing to bat first. Initially, they appeared on track to surpass 300 runs, but tight bowling from Australia restricted them to 278 runs, bowled out with five balls remaining. Ngidi, stepping in for the injured Kagiso Rabada, delivered a stellar performance, claiming five wickets for 42 runs. This achievement marks Ngidi’s second five-wicket haul in ODIs, showcasing his importance to the South African bowling attack.
Despite a promising lower-order performance from Labuschagne, who took 2 wickets for 19 runs, his batting remains a concern. With scores of just 1 in both matches of the series, his position at number three may be at risk as Australia struggles to find form. This latest defeat adds to a disheartening record, with the team winning only one ODI since November 2022, which was against England during this year’s Champions Trophy.
The Australian cricket team is now under pressure to regroup as they prepare for the remainder of the series. With multiple defeats against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and now South Africa, the upcoming matches will be crucial for restoring confidence and performance. The team must find a way to rebuild and perform under pressure or risk further declines in their ODI standings.
As the series progresses, the focus will be on whether Australia can turn their fortunes around and regain their competitive edge in international cricket.
