South Africa created history against Australia, whilst the West Indies fell at the hands of Pakistan, as England’s 2017 opponents enjoyed differing fortunes in their recent One-Day Internationals.

The Proteas completed a 3-0 series victory with two matches still to go whereas the West Indies suffered a sixth successive white ball reverse at the hands of Pakistan.

In Durban, Australia and South Africa laid-on an exhilarating encounter, which ultimately saw the hosts take an unassailable lead in the ODI leg of the tour.

After dominating the first two ODIs, Faf du Plessis’ men faced a sterner test at Kingsmead after Australia won the toss and chose to bat first.

David Warner and Aaron Finch got the visitors off to a flier, adding 110 in the first 13 overs before the latter fell to the leg-spin of former Nottinghamshire man Imran Tahir.

Warner, in partnership with his captain Steven Smith, the left-hander played in his usual attacking style, to bring up his fourth century of 2016 and eighth of his ODI career.

The 29-year-old became Tahir’s second victim but Smith (108) accelerated alongside George Bailey (28), laying the platform for some lower order fireworks from Travis Head (35 off 18) and Mathew Wade (17* off 8).

Australia posted 371-6 and looked in the driving seat when the Proteas fell to 217-5, despite a 49-ball 70 from Quinton de Kock and useful contributions from the returning Hashim Amla (45) and du Plessis (33).

However David Miller, who soldiered on despite sustaining a a groin problem shortly after the fall of the fifth wicket, dispatched the inexperienced Australian attack to all parts on his way to a third ODI hundred off just 69 deliveries.

Having shared a stand of 48 in 6.3 overs with Dwayne Pretorious, Miller put on 107 off 70 balls with Andile Phehlukwayo (42*) to guide South Africa over the line.

West Indies meanwhile were once again on the wrong end of a Babar Azam onslaught, the 21-year-old Pakistan number three making his third consecutive ODI century.

Azam, who hadn’t scored a 50-over international hundred before these matches, struck a 106-ball 117 to become the leading run-scorer in a three-match series, with 360 runs.

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali also added 101, becoming the first man to score three ODI centuries as leader of the national side, as Pakistan managed 308-6 from their 50 overs.

In reply, the West Indies never looked like getting close, with Kraigg Brathwaite (32) and Dinesh Ramdin (37) the only men to pass thirty.

They were eventually all out for 172, giving Pakistan a 136-run triumph and a 3-0 series victory, to go with the same scoreline in the three preceding T20Is.

 

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