Batting first, South Africa posted an imposing 365/9 in their 50 overs, with David Miller producing a magnificent career-best 142 and captain Temba Bavuma anchoring the innings with a classy 103.

However, the Proteas were immediately on the back foot when Aiden Markram was dismissed for a golden duck off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood with the very first ball of the match.

Temba Bavuma. Photo: Cricinfo

Matthew Breetzke provided some stability with a brisk 34 off 28 deliveries, but it was Bavuma and Miller who turned the innings around with a commanding partnership that put South Africa firmly in the driver’s seat.

Bavuma struck ten fours and two sixes in his century, while Miller was even more destructive, smashing 12 fours and nine sixes in a breathtaking display of power hitting.

The veteran left-hander eventually fell to Jack Edwards, but by then he had already put South Africa in a commanding position with his highest ODI score.

Towards the back end of the innings, Duan Jansen marked the occasion of playing alongside his twin brother, Marco, for the first time by contributing an unbeaten 27. The final wicket added another 19 runs as South Africa surged beyond the 360 mark.

Edwards was the pick of the Australian bowlers, finishing with 5/67 in his ten overs, while Hazlewood claimed 3/70.

Australia once again made a flying start in the run chase, with captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head putting on a 130-run opening partnership and briefly threatening to take the game away from the hosts.

David Miller. Photo: Cricinfo

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 17th over when Bjorn Fortuin bowled Marsh for a superb 84 off 53 deliveries.

Head continued to keep the pressure on, but his innings ended on 84 off 76 balls when he was trapped lbw by Markram in the 25th over.

Xavier Bartlett then produced a powerful cameo of 50 off just 28 balls, while Matt Renshaw added 32 to keep Australia’s hopes alive.

Temba Bavuma. Photo: Cricinfo

But the Proteas kept chipping away at the Australian batting order, and eventually bowled the visitors out for 333 with just one ball remaining, sealing a hard-fought 32-run victory.

Lizaad Williams was the pick of the South African attack with 3/54 in 7.5 overs, while Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Fortuin claimed two wickets apiece.

Player of the Match Miller said the rivalry between the two nations remains special, adding he relished the opportunity to go head-to-head with a side he regards as one of the best in the world.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. Photo: Cricinfo

“Yeah, I definitely was on the couch watching the rivalry there with the All Blacks in South Africa and the Boks,” said Miller.

“But, yeah, I mean, Australia always, I’ve said to many people, it’s always great to compete against the best in the world, and Australia are certainly that. They’ve got world-class players, and it’s always nice doing battle against them, and obviously topping it off with a win.”

For Miller, his eighth ODI century and career-best score made an already memorable occasion even more special.

Jack Edwards. Photo: Cricinfo

“I suppose after the first game, I haven’t been in the ODI set-up for a while, so I just went back to the drawing board, trusting my process and my preparation,” Miller added.

“I’m really, really satisfied personally with the things that you’ve got to kind of get over and the challenges, moving through the gears and finally getting through to three figures. So it was really, really special on a day like this as well, so, yeah, I definitely want to remember it.”

The third and final ODI will be played on Wednesday at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, with the first ball scheduled for 13:30.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg