Carey, Marsh hit fifties as Australia post 322

A bruising 56 from Mitchell Marsh and a calculating 74 from Alex Carey, alongside contributions from Oliver Peake and the remainder of the batting order saw Australia climb to 322 for 9 in Potchefstroom. South Africa, who had made no fewer than five changes to the side that sewed up the series 2-0 in Johannesburg, had a flat pitch and a damp outfield to contend with.

Still, Australia's batting banded together as it rarely has this series. The lowest score among their top seven was 23, each of the batters finding some sort of fluency. Where Marsh had set Australia on track to a good total, striking at 133 through his 42-ball innings, Carey consolidated while the likes of Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green attacked beside him. Peake was unlucky to be caught by a diving Bjorn Fortuin at backward point on 48.

Having arrived at the 40th over at 249 for 4 with both Carey and Renshaw nicely set, Australia could have pushed for a total closer to 350. But South Africa's death bowlers struck frequently to keep the final score manageable. Corbin Bosch added two wickets at the death to the two he had already taken, to finish with the innings' best figures of 4 for 60 off nine overs. Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams took two apiece as well, though Williams traveled for eight an over across the six he bowled.

Marsh's bottom-handed power was on full display in the powerplay, as he muscled South Africa's quicks repeatedly over the legside. By the end of the sixth over, he had struck seven fours and a six over deep midwicket, and by the end of the powerplay, he had already motored past fifty, though he had lost opening partner Travis Head, who dragged a Bosch delivery onto his stumps. Marsh would soon fall too, trapped lbw by Fortuin in the 14th over, but the innings had set off apace because of him.

Carey then came to the crease at 118 for 3 in the 18th over, and gently worked himself into some much-needed fluency. Carey had not struck an ODI fifty in over a year, though he hadn't exacly been bereft of runs in that period either. Still, having made 14 off his first 25 balls, Carey struck a rhythm through the middle overs, accumulating efficiently against both pace and spin. With batters around him playing more aggressive innings, Carey moseyed to a half century off 68 balls, and only then moved up the gears. He was out in the 46th over, cutting a Bosch delivery to short third.

Peake, playing his first match of the series, produced a sensible innings. He shared a 73-run stand with Alex Carey that saw Australia push ahead through the early middle overs, hitting many of his runs square of the wicket and behind it. His one six came from a pull shot, off the bowling of Aiden Markram.

The Potchefstroom surface not having been especially helpful to any variety of bowler, South Africa will feel they have a chance. It remains a daunting total, however.