In a spectacular display of cricketing prowess, Australia hammered South Africa by 276 runs in the final One-Day International (ODI) at Mackay, ensuring they did not suffer a whitewash in the series. This victory marked Australia's second-highest ODI total, finishing at an impressive 431-2, with their top three batsmen all scoring centuries.

Match Highlights:

• Travis Head led the charge with a magnificent 142.
• Cameron Green smashed a rapid 118 off just 47 balls.
• Mitchell Marsh contributed a solid 100, rounding off a dominant batting performance.

Bowling Brilliance: Youngster Cooper Connolly, celebrating his 22nd birthday just two days prior, delivered a career-best performance, taking 5 wickets for only 22 runs. His spell dismantled the South African batting lineup, which collapsed to 155 all out in 24.5 overs.

Post-Match Reactions:

• Mitchell Marsh, Australia's captain, praised his team's effort: "A pretty crazy day, wasn't it? A full performance from the lads. Shame it was a little bit too late but full credit to South Africa. They played outstandingly well in the first two games."
• Temba Bavuma, South Africa's captain, acknowledged the pressure from the start: "We were under the pump from the first ball. They put us under pressure. They made it look like a very good surface, and they were far better than us today."

Series Summary: Despite this heavy defeat, South Africa had already secured the series by winning the first two matches. Keshav Maharaj was named the player of the series for his six wickets across the games.

Historical Context: Australia's highest ODI total remains the 434 they scored against South Africa in 2006, a match that also ended in a thrilling victory.

This match not only highlighted Australia's depth in both batting and bowling but also showcased the emergence of new talents like Cooper Connolly, promising an exciting future for Australian cricket.