Green, Head and Marsh Flay Centuries as Australia Pile Up 431

Australia delivered a stunning response in the third ODI against South Africa, posting a mammoth 431 for 2 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, marking the highest total on home soil and their second-highest ever in ODIs.

Power and Precision at the Top

The innings burst to life as Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh went about their work, building a mammoth 250‑run opening partnership which was the biggest first-wicket stand for Australia against South Africa. Head was in destructive form, scoring 142 off 103 balls with 17 fours and five sixes. Marsh was the calm hand, building an excellent composed 100 off 106 balls, and the 250-run opening partnership built a platform for the innings. 

In at number three, Cameron Green took to the crease with the furious intent to accelerate the innings, finishing with an unbeaten 118 off 55 balls, for the fastest ODI century made on Australian soil and the second-fastest by an Australian (only to Glenn Maxwell’s 40). 

This innings was also only the second in ODI history where the top three batters in an innings all scored centuries (the first time was South Africa’s monumental effort against West Indies in 2015).

Historic Milestones

431–2 is Australia’s second-highest ODI total, falling just short of their legendary 434–4 in Johannesburg, 2006. Their 431 is the highest total recorded in an ODI on Australian soil. The Green–Carey stand also set a new benchmark: 164 runs at a scoring rate of 12.14 runs per over, the highest-ever for Australia for partnerships of 150+.

With this commanding performance, Australia salvaged pride in the series' final match. The ball will now shift to South Africa’s response, an imposing chase awaits as the Proteas attempt to counteract one of the most dominant displays by a top-three batting lineup in ODI history.