Australia rewrote all sorts of records while demolishing South Africa in the dead rubber game in Mackay, avoiding a 3-0 sweep for the Proteas, albeit against a much-weakened lineup as the visitors rested several key players.
A total of 2-431 was Australia’s second best, while the margin of 276 runs was also number two on the all-time chart for the national team in ODI matches.
Cameron Green’s hundred came from 47 balls.Credit: Getty Images
Cameron Green was top of the individual list with a 47-ball hundred that was the second swiftest-ever for Australia - Glenn Maxwell now occupies spots one and three.
In white ball mode, Green is phenomenally powerful and decisive in his approach, although he admitted to being a tad unprepared after being told of his promotion to number three a couple of balls before he came in.
The stage had been set for Green by an excellent opening stand from Travis Head (142 to take the match award) and captain Mitchell Marsh (100).
After Marsh chose to bat first in pristine conditions, the openers combined for 250, the best-ever opening partnership for Australia against South Africa, and ultimately the best for any wicket, surpassing Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan’s 222-run union under the Docklands roof way back in 2000.
Marsh has played solidly across both series, but for Head this was his first substantial batting contribution of the series after the Proteas succeeded in corralling him across the first five games.
“Disappointing this has come at the end,” Head said. “Good signs for a couple of players. We’ve got a little bit of a break before a heavy white-ball block ahead of the Ashes. So a little bit of confidence going into the break.
“I felt like I threw a start away in Cairns. My tempo was really good today. I surprised myself with the way I played.”
They were helped by the absence of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi to name two, while the new ball did far less in the afternoon sun than under lights. South Africa also rested Matthew Breetzke, their best batter in the first two games.
Alex Carey’s unbeaten 50 from 37 balls was the perfect supporting hand for Green, who at tims was so confident of his six-hitting prowess that he declined easy singles.
They were wise choices, it turned out, allowing the Australians to rattle to their second biggest total ever, beaten only by the 434 piled up at the Wanderers in 2006.
Infamously, that score was not enough to win a uniquely high-scoring game, but there was never much likelihood of a repeat in Mackay.
Xavier Bartlett and Sean Abbott nabbed a quartet of early wickets between them, and while Dewald Brevis (49) gave the crowds one more cameo to remember him by, it was left to Cooper Connolly to add another record.
Cooper Connolly celebrates the dismissal of Dewald Brevis.Credit: Getty Images
His haul of 5-22 from six overs were the best figures for an Australian spin bowler in an ODI, accounting for the fact Andrew Symonds bowled both pace and spin in his 5-18 against Bangladesh in 2005.
But none of Shane Warne (5-33), Brad Hogg (5-32), Adam Zampa (5-35) or Michael Clarke (5-35) had taken their five-fors so swiftly or cheaply.
Connolly seemed particularly proud of deceiving Brevis, celebrating with a bow and arrow gesture. But it would be unwise of Connolly or Australia to read too much into a game that rewrote records but came after the series was long gone.
The day had begun with the unsettling news that backup speedster Lance Morris will miss the Ashes summer because he is flying to New Zealand for the same back surgery undertaken last year by Green.
