Breetzke's hundred, Jansen's fireworks take South Africa to 297

Matthew Breetzke became the leading run-scorer in ODI cricket after 14 innings and scored the second century of his career to take South Africa to a competitive total in their home international season opener in Durban. Breetzke shared in a 107-run sixth-wicket stand with Marco Jansen, who brought up third ODI fifty, to take South Africa from a middling 168 for 5 in the 34th over to a total they will back themselves to defend.

Only one total higher than this has been successfully chased at Kingsmead, and that was 372 by South Africa against Australia a decade ago. Two Australians - Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head - were part of that XI and they will have plenty to do in response.

South Africa shuffled their batting order to accommodate for the absence of Aiden Markram for personal reasons, and tasked Tony de Zorzi with opening with Quinton de Kock. De Zorzi was unable to build on his twin 70s from Namibia and faced a testing over from Hazlewood before edging him to Matt Renshaw at slip. Temba Bavuma was in early and Australia thought they had him lbw in the same over, and reviewed, but the Hawk-Eye showed the bounce in the surface was taking the ball over the top of the stumps. The South African captain responded by driving Starc over cover for his first four.

De Kock struck the first six of the innings when he pulled Hazlewood behind square but did not manage any more shots in anger. He was Ellis' first wicket, when he pushed uncertainly and was caught behind. At 29 for 2 in the eighth over, things were looking shaky for South Africa but Breetzke showed intent straight away. His first runs came with a glorious straight drive and he found a second boundary square by the end of the powerplay.

Australia kept Bavuma quiet until debutant Jack Edwards' second over, when he brought out the drive and the pull, but Bavuma never really looked comfortable. He was dismissed for a 48-ball 30 when he reached out to drive a Zampa legbreak and was caught behind.

By then, Breetzke was on 45. He reached a run-a-ball fifty in the following over when he hit Renshaw down the ground for his seventh four. With David Miller at the other end, South Africa had plenty of firepower but Miller also struggled to find his touch. He laboured to 9 off 24 balls before getting a leading-edge off Ellis, who took a sharp catch in his follow-through.

Australia were into the lower order and sensing an opportunity as Marsh brought Starc back. Jansen had ideas of his own. He cleared the front leg to hit Starc through midwicket for four, prompting Zampa's return. Jansen channelled his inner Dewald Brevis to send Zampa over long-on with no-look six and then slog-sweep for another. So Starc was brought back and his slower ball sent for a third Jansen six and then hit over his head for four. Jansen raced to 41 off 31 balls and gave Breetzke a break from shouldering the innings' responsibility.

Breetzke was on 76 from 79 balls when Jansen came in and 87 off 94 in the 43rd over when he entered the 90s with a punch over point. In the next over, he reached his hundred with a single and celebrated with a roar and a gesture to the heavens. A ball later, Jansen reached fifty when he hit Starc to long-on, where Cooper Connolly attempted a sliding catch but couldn't hold on and South Africa entered the last five overs on 243 for 5.

They plundered 30 runs off the next two overs as tempers flared. Breetzke was hit by a throw from Josh Inglis and took a run, leaving Ellis less than impressed and with Jansen in his face.

Amidst the flurry of action, South Africa also wanted to push towards 300. When Breetzke called for a second run that wasn't there, he was short of his ground. Australia's slow over-rate meant they had to bowl the last two overs with a fielding penalty. They got rid of Jansen for 75, as he equalled his career-best, when Ellis picked up a third.