South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen registered a record-breaking 75-run knock against Australia in the ODI series opener at Kingsmead, Durban, on September 24. Jansen broke the record for the highest score by a no.7 Proteas batter against Australia. The record was previously in possession of Shaun Pollock who scored 69 runs from 74 balls on March 5, 2006.
Jansen in elite lists
Jansen's 75 is also the joint seventh-highest score by a no.7 batter against Australia in ODIs. The record belongs to New Zealand's Brendon McCullum and Pakistan's Wasim Akram. McCullum had scored an unbeaten 86 off 91 balls against Australia in February 2007. Akram had scored 86 runs from 76 against Australia in February 1990.
Jansen is the fourth South Africa batter at no.7 to score a half-century against Australia. Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher are the other two batters.
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This is the second time Jansen has scored 74 in ODIs. He had done it against England in 2023. Jansen's 75 is also the joint third-highest score by a no.7 South Africa batter. Justin Kemp had scored an unbeaten 100 against India in 2006 followed by David Miller's unbeaten 85 against Sri Lanka in 2013.
Jansen's partnership with Breetzke
Jansen arrived at the crease in the 34th over after David Miller lost his wicket to Nathan Ellis. He shared a 107-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Matthew Breetzke. This is South Africa's second 100-plus partnership for sixth wicket against Australia in ODIs. In 2006, AB de Villiers and Pollock had put in an 119-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Breetzke in ABD's list
Breetzke is only the fifth South Africa no.4 batter to score an ODI century against Australia. De Villiers is at top with an unbeaten 136 against Australia in 2014. The other batters are Faf du Plessis (125 in 2018), Rilee Rossouw (122 in 2016) and Aiden Markram (102 not out in 2023). This is Breetzke's second ODI century. He averages well above 60 in the format.
South Africa get close to 300
Despite a slow start, South Africa managed to post 297 on the board. Jansen's 75 off 59 featured seven fours and four sixes. He lost his wicket to Nathan Ellis in the penultimate over of the innings. Breetzke got run out for a 106-ball 112 laced with 14 fours and a couple of sixes.