By The Numbers: How a 55-Ball Collapse Defined Australia’s Defeat

The story of Australia’s 98-run loss to South Africa can be told through a devastating set of numbers. A catastrophic collapse over just 55 balls saw the hosts lose six wickets for 29 runs, turning a comfortable run chase into a humbling defeat at the hands of spinner Keshav Maharaj.
The statistical highlight of the day belonged to Maharaj, whose maiden five-wicket haul came at the cost of just 33 runs (5-33). At one point, his figures were a remarkable 5-9. His performance was the fourth-best by a South African bowler in an ODI in Australia, highlighting the historical significance of his spell.
South Africa’s innings was built on its own strong numbers: an opening partnership of 92 between Ryan Rickelton (33) and Aiden Markram (82), followed by a solid 65 from Temba Bavuma. Their final total of 8-296 set a challenging run rate of 5.94 per over for the Australians.
In stark contrast, Australia’s middle order produced dismal figures, with no batter from number three to seven reaching double digits. Captain Mitch Marsh stood alone with 88, but the numerical evidence of the collapse around him was overwhelming, leading to a final total of 198.