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Result · One-Day Internationals

South Africa Cricket vs Australia

Venue par · 221Chase success · 33%POTM · KA Maharaj

Match preview & overview

Maharaj's five-wicket haul seals 98-run win for South Africa in Cairns

South Africa beat Australia by 98 runs in an ODI at Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns on 19 August 2025. Batting first after Australia won the toss and chose to field, South Africa posted 296/8 from their 50 overs. Australia's chase never sustained momentum. They lost 2 wickets in the powerplay, 6 more in the middle overs, and were bowled out for 198. Keshav Maharaj's 5/33 from 10 overs was the central bowling performance, earning him the Player of the Match award. Mitchell Marsh top-scored for Australia with 88 off 96 balls, but once he departed the lower order offered little resistance.

South Africa's innings was built in the middle overs. They scored 167 runs for 3 wickets across that phase, consolidating a powerplay of 56 without loss and giving the lower order a platform. The death overs cost them 5 wickets for 73 runs, but 296 was always going to be a stiff ask at a venue where the average first-innings score is 221 across just 6 matches.

The win is South Africa's second against Australia in 2025 across five encounters. Australia lead the overall head-to-head 57 wins to 54 from 115 ODIs, so the gap remains narrow. Three of the last five meetings had gone Australia's way before this result.

Pitch report & venue insights

Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns — 6-match sample

Aggregate conditions from 2022–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.

6

T20 matches hosted

221

Avg 1st-innings score

179

Avg 2nd-innings score

33%

Chase success rate

41

Avg powerplay runs

100%

Toss-field rate

Key talking points

Moments the match hinged on

5 angles

Headline angle

Maharaj the difference-maker with 5/33

Keshav Maharaj claimed 5 wickets for 33 runs from 10 overs to win the Player of the Match award. It was the decisive bowling performance in a match South Africa won by 98 runs, reducing Australia to 198 all out chasing 297.

Angle 02

South Africa's middle overs built the platform

South Africa scored 167 runs for 3 wickets in the middle overs of their innings, giving the lower order enough to work with at the death. That phase control allowed them to post 296/8, well above Cazaly's Stadium's average first-innings score of 221 across six matches at the ground.

Angle 03

Australia's chase collapsed at the death

After a powerplay of 67/2 that gave Australia some hope, the middle overs cost them 6 more wickets for 129 runs. The final phase produced just 2 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. A target of 297 was always stiff here, where the chase success rate sits at 33 per cent.

Angle 04

Marsh top-scored but couldn't sustain the chase

Mitchell Marsh scored 88 off 96 balls in this match, providing Australia's most substantial resistance. His innings kept the run rate competitive for a period, but once he departed the lower order could not close the gap on a 98-run deficit.

Angle 05

Series context: a tight rivalry tipped again

South Africa lead Australia 54 wins to 57 across 115 ODI meetings, with 4 no-results. Three of the last five encounters have gone to Australia, so this win narrows the gap and continues a see-saw sequence between the sides in 2025.

Key players

Players who decided it

KM

South Africa Cricket

KA Maharaj

Maharaj was the standout performer of the match, taking 5 wickets for 33 runs from his full allocation of 10 overs. That return earned him the Player of the Match award and effectively settled the contest in the middle passage of Australia's chase.

Career stats
MR Marsh

Australia Cricket

MR Marsh

Marsh contributed 88 off 96 balls in Australia's chase, their most significant batting contribution on the day. His knock kept Australia in touch for a period, though the target proved beyond the side after his departure.

Career stats
SPD Smith

Australia Cricket

SPD Smith

Steve Smith has a record of big ODI scores in this fixture context, with a hundred of 105 off 131 balls to his name in a previous meeting. Whether he contributed in this match is not confirmed in the available data, but he remains a key watch for any Australia batting collapse scenario.

Career stats
A Zampa

Australia Cricket

A Zampa

Adam Zampa has previously taken 5 wickets for 35 runs from 9 overs in an ODI against South Africa, making him a consistent wicket-taking threat in this fixture. His role in the first innings would have been central to any Australian attempt to restrict the South African total.

Career stats
AC

Australia Cricket

AT Carey

Alex Carey has scored 85 off 99 balls in a previous ODI against South Africa, demonstrating the capacity to anchor a chase from the middle order. Australia needed exactly that kind of contribution as wickets fell in the middle overs of their pursuit of 297.

Career stats

Betting & analytical angles

Angles the data surfaced

Observations from the venue data, recent form and historical trends. Editorial context, not betting advice.

  • Spin-bowling markets may be worth monitoring in Australian conditions when South Africa's slow bowlers are on song, given Maharaj's 5/33 on this surface.
  • Top Australian batter markets could attract interest given Mitchell Marsh's 88 off 96 balls, though the chase context means raw scores may understate batting contributions.
  • Cazaly's Stadium's 33 per cent chase success rate suggests first-innings total markets may historically favour the side batting first here.
  • Player of the Match markets in South Africa fixtures may skew towards their bowling unit when spinners are operating in warm, dry Australian conditions.

For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.

Frequently asked

Questions about South Africa Cricket vs Australia

Who won the South Africa vs Australia ODI on 19 August 2025?

South Africa won by 98 runs at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns. They posted 296/8 batting first and bowled Australia out for 198 in reply.

Who was Player of the Match in the South Africa vs Australia ODI in Cairns?

Keshav Maharaj won the Player of the Match award after taking 5 wickets for 33 runs from 10 overs. His spell was central to South Africa restricting Australia to 198 all out.

What is the head-to-head record between South Africa and Australia in ODIs?

Australia lead the all-time series 57 wins to South Africa's 54, from 115 ODIs with 4 no-results. The 2025 series has been closely contested, with both sides winning multiple times before this Cairns result.

Where can I watch South Africa vs Australia ODIs in the UK?

Sky Sports Cricket holds the UK broadcast rights for most Australia home internationals. You can also stream via Sky Go or a NOW TV day pass if you don't have a full subscription.

What is the average score at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns?

Across 6 matches at Cazaly's Stadium, the average first-innings score is 221 and the average second-innings score is 179. South Africa's 296/8 comfortably exceeded that first-innings benchmark.

Did Australia choose to field first in this match?

Yes. Australia won the toss and elected to field, which is consistent with the venue's historical pattern: all six previous toss decisions at Cazaly's Stadium have resulted in the winning side choosing to field. Despite batting second, Australia were bowled out for 198.

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