South Africa vs Australia 3rd ODI Highlights: Aiden Markram, Spinners Keep South Africa's Series Hopes Alive

We are back for the chase. The umpires are on the ground and so is the fielding team as they take their positions after last-minute instructions from their captain. Travis Head and David Warner will open the batting innings for Australia as they begin chasing 339.  Aiden Markram is trusted with the new ball to open the bowling attack. Let's go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Right then, the chase will be up shortly. Australia will chase 339 and South Africa's bowlers will bowl under the lights here. It is still pretty evenly poised as Australia has a good batting lineup. South Africa will hope that the bowlers regain their form in this very important match. Will Australia chase down the mammoth total or will South Africa end up with a victory, their first of the series? Grab a cup of coffee and join us in a while for the exciting chase.

Aiden Markram is up for a chat after a superb innings by him. He says that it was frustrating not scoring runs but you have to analyze with a clear mind and he is happy with his knock but also admits he got a bit of luck as well. Adds that it should be enough for them to defend. Mentions that if the surface plays the same, they are in with a great chance but they are not sure how it would be under lights.

Australia was looking in trouble at the start of the innings as the two openers put up a strong partnership. Mitchell Marsh did a good job of bringing in the spinners, Travis Head and Tanveer Sangha, the debutant into the attack after the drinks break and they rewarded him by dismissing the two set openers. An amazing piece of fielding by Marnus Labuschagne led to the dismissal of Reeza Hendricks. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller were also dismissed in quick intervals as the bowlers put the pressure back on South Africa. In the last 10 overs, Aiden Markram took apart the bowlers along with Marco Jansen who took apart Nathan Ellis. Ellis however got his revenge in the same over as a blinder from Sean Abbott brought an end to Jansen's innings. The Aussies did not have an answer for the shots Aiden Markram had as he provided his team with a strong end. Travis Head ended up with 2 important wickets along with the debutant Tanveer Sangha scalping one. Josh Hazlewood will be disappointed with his bowling. The target for Australia is 339. It is now up to the batters in the second innings.

South Africa got off to a really strong start as their openers put up a partnership of more than 100 runs. Both Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock batted steadily and slowly put the bowlers under pressure. After their quick dismissal, Reeza Hendricks along with Aiden Markram stabilized the innings well. Reeza Hendricks and the new man Heinrich Klaasen were dismissed in quick succession putting the pressure back on the batters. The quick dismissal of David Miller didn’t help the cause and put the hosts on the back foot. In the last phase of the innings, Aiden Markram, who was watching the wickets fall from the other hand, took care of the innings in the end and unleashed an array of shots on the bowlers smashing them all around the ground along with Jansen supporting him playing a cameo. The onslaught from Marco Jansen was stopped by a screamer from Abbott right at the boundary ropes. Aiden Markram continued to find boundaries and pushed South Africa to a very high score of 338 along with staying unbeaten on 102 runs.

Aiden Markram has provided South Africa with a very strong end to their innings. He helped his team put 338 on the board along with bringing up his century. South Africa dominated the start as Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma put up a good stand and an explosive finish from Aiden Markram along with Marco Jansen helped them finish just under 340 which is a very good score on this pitch.

FOUR! Yes, he can! HUNDRED FOR MARKRAM! Josh Hazlewood just misses his yorker, on off, Aiden Markram gets under it and thrashes it wide of long off for a boundary. A brilliant innings from him and South Africa end with 338/6!

Right in the blockhole again, on middle, Sisanda Magala gets his bat down in time and jams it past the stumps. The batters cross for another run. Aiden Markram needs two on the last ball for his hundred. Can he do it?

Josh Hazlewood nails the yorker, on off, Aiden Markram tries to dig it out but gets an inside edge towards square leg. They cross.

On a length and around off, Sisanda Magala pushes it towards extra covers and scampers across for a run. Aiden Markram has three balls to get to his century.

Fuller one and around off, Sisanda Magala throws his bat at it but misses.

Short and on middle, Aiden Markram pulls it towards deep square leg for a single. He moves to 97 now.

DROPPED! Aiden Markram still has the chance to get to his hundred! This is full and on middle, Aiden Markram mistimes his slog in the air as Tim David at long on runs forward and gets under it but spills it out. A single is taken and Markram gets a life!

Pitched up and around off, Sisanda Magala slices it hard but straight towards deep point for one more.

Short of a length and on middle, slower again, Aiden Markram mistimes his pull on the bounce to long on for one.

Overpitched and on leg, Aiden Markram lofts it towards wide of long on for a couple of runs, Magala has to put in a dive in at the other end to make his ground. A better throw and he would have been a goner.

Another slower one, full and on off, Sisanda Magala is early into his big drive but toe-ends it through cover-point for a run.

Slower delivery, back of a length and around off, Aiden Markram forces it towards covers for a single.

Back of a length and on middle, Aiden Markram slaps it towards long for one.