Overview
- South Africa posted 297 for 8 at Kingsmead and then bowled Australia out for 230 to win the first ODI by 67 runs.
- Matthew Breetzke scored 112 from 106 balls and Marco Jansen added a counterattacking 75, the pair lifting the Proteas after an early collapse.
- Left‑arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took 4 for 20 and Bjorn Fortuin claimed 2 for 34 to choke the Australian chase on a spinner‑friendly surface.
- Australia began the reply brightly with a 90‑run opening stand, but Mitchell Marsh’s 60 came on Thursday and the side then lost nine wickets for 101 runs.
- The result leaves South Africa 1‑0 up in the three‑match series and will shape selection as they manage hamstring injuries to multiple pacemen ahead of the next ODI and World Cup preparations.