Matthew Breetzke’s century and Marco Jansen’s explosive 75 set up South Africa’s 67-run victory, before Keshav Maharaj’s four-wicket haul completed Australia’s collapse in Durban.

South Africa began their home international summer in emphatic fashion, defeating Australia by 67 runs in the first ODI at Kingsmead despite missing several of their frontline fast bowlers.

Matthew Breetzke struck his second ODI century and Marco Jansen smashed a career-best-equalling 75 before Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin combined for six wickets to dismantle Australia’s chase.

Australia, chasing 302 for victory, made a flying start through Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head but lost their final nine wickets for just 101 runs to be bowled out for 234.

The result was built on a complete South African performance, with Breetzke, Jansen and Maharaj providing the defining moments on a day when South Africa celebrated Heritage Day.

Marsh and Head Launch Australia’s Chase

Australia began their pursuit at remarkable speed.

Marsh and Head added 90 inside the opening 10 overs, putting South Africa’s seamers under immediate pressure on a good batting surface.

Marsh was particularly aggressive, taking 17 runs from Jansen’s third over and reaching his half-century from only 31 balls. He brought up the milestone with a huge 104-metre six over the leg side.

Head initially struggled to find the same amount of strike but quickly accelerated once Corbin Bosch entered the attack.

With South Africa’s seamers struggling for consistency, Keshav Maharaj was introduced to slow Australia’s momentum.

The move worked almost immediately. In his second over, Marsh drove to Breetzke at cover, giving South Africa their first major breakthrough.

Maharaj completed his opening spell with 1 for 13 from four overs, helping South Africa regain control.

Spin Turns the Match

Jansen eventually found the breakthrough with Head, who top-edged while attempting to turn a delivery towards the leg side and was caught at deep third.

Josh Inglis then gloved a reverse-sweep to slip, giving Bjorn Fortuin his first wicket.

The crucial breakthrough came when Cooper Connolly slog-swept Fortuin towards long-on, where David Miller held a sliding catch.

Maharaj then struck twice in quick succession, removing Cameron Green and Jack Edwards to leave Australia 188 for 6 and needing 110 from 123 balls.

The pressure continued to mount.

Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Starc briefly threatened to rebuild, taking 14 from Jansen’s sixth over, but South Africa immediately tightened the screws.

Maharaj bowled a maiden, while Jansen and Fortuin conceded only two runs between them across two overs. Gerald Coetzee added another maiden with a series of accurate yorkers.

Then came the defining moment.

Renshaw pulled a short delivery from Coetzee towards the boundary, only for Jansen to produce a spectacular one-handed catch. He stretched his right arm at full length and held the ball just inches above the ground.

Australia were 215 for 7, requiring 83 from 82 balls, and the game was effectively decided.

Bosch claimed two late wickets before Maharaj fittingly completed the victory, having Adam Zampa caught by Breetzke to finish with 4 for 47.

Breetzke and Jansen Rescue South Africa

South Africa’s victory had been set up earlier by Breetzke and Jansen, who combined for a crucial 107-run partnership.

After Australia chose to bowl, their attack kept South Africa under pressure for much of the innings.

Josh Hazlewood was particularly effective with a fuller length, while Nathan Ellis mixed wobble-seam deliveries with slower balls. Adam Zampa also struck twice in his opening four overs to keep the middle overs under control.

South Africa’s top order struggled.

Tony de Zorzi, promoted to open alongside Quinton de Kock in the absence of Aiden Markram, fell for seven-ball duck.

De Kock briefly counterattacked, pulling Hazlewood for the first six of the innings, but was soon caught behind off Ellis.

Temba Bavuma worked hard for 30 from 48 balls before falling to a Zampa leg-break, while Ryan Rickelton showed signs of acceleration before finding Matt Renshaw at deep square leg.

At 168 for 5 in the 34th over, South Africa appeared to be heading towards a modest total.

Breetzke, however, remained composed.

Jansen Changes the Momentum

Breetzke reached his fifty from 50 balls before David Miller struggled to get going and fell for 9.

Jansen then changed the complexion of the innings.

He attacked Starc through midwicket before taking on Zampa, launching the spinner over long-on with a no-look six and following it with another slog-sweep for six.

Starc returned, only for Jansen to hit another six and then drive him over his head for four.

Jansen raced to 41 from 31 balls, taking the pressure off Breetzke.

Breetzke continued to build towards his century, reaching 90 with a punch over point before completing three figures with a single in the following over.

He celebrated with a roar and a gesture towards the heavens.

A ball later, Jansen brought up his fifty when he struck Starc towards long-on. Cooper Connolly attempted a sliding catch but could not hold on.

Late Surge Takes South Africa Near 300

South Africa entered the final five overs at 243 for 5 and then accelerated dramatically.

They collected 30 runs from the next two overs and benefited from Australia’s slow over-rate, which forced the visitors to bowl the final two overs with a fielding restriction.

South Africa ultimately posted 301 for 7, a total that initially looked competitive rather than overwhelming.

But the combination of Maharaj, Fortuin and South Africa’s disciplined bowling transformed it into a winning score.

Australia’s inability to counter left-arm spin proved decisive. Maharaj’s four-wicket haul completed a remarkable turnaround and ensured South Africa opened their home summer with a convincing victory.

Breetzke’s century and Jansen’s explosive contribution provided the foundation, but it was South Africa’s collective performance in the field that ultimately sealed the result.