Mick Lewis can breathe a sigh of relief.
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has equalled the unwanted record for worst bowling figures in ODI history, leaking 113 runs during the fourth ODI against South Africa at SuperSport Park.
The 31-year-old, currently fourth on the men’s ODI bowling rankings, conceded eight boundaries and nine sixes throughout Friday’s wicketless ten-over spell, with Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller feasting on his wayward leggies. Before Friday, Zampa had never gone for more than 72 runs in an ODI.
It mirrored Lewis’ infamous 0-113 spell in Johannesburg from 17 years ago, which also coincidentally occurred against the Proteas in South Africa. The previous most expensive bowling figures for an Australian spinner in ODIs was Steve Smith’s 0-78 against the West Indies in 2010.
Zampa has been Australia’s most prolific ODI bowler since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming 61 wickets at 20.18 in the 50-over format, and he remains a crucial figure ahead of Australia’s World Cup campaign in India.
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Worst bowling figures in men’s ODIs
0-113 – Mick Lewis (AUS) vs RSA, 2006
0-113 – Adam Zampa (AUS) vs RSA, 2023
0-110 – Wahab Riaz (PAK) vs ENG, 2016
0-110 – Rashid Khan (AFG) vs ENG, 2019
0-108 – Philippe Boissevain (NED) vs ENG, 2022
Klaasen and Miller combined for a brutal 222-run partnership for the fifth wicket as South Africa registered 5-416 from their 50 overs, a venue record. It was South Africa‘s second-highest team total against Australia in ODIs.
In response, Australia was rolled for 252 in less than 35 overs, with Proteas quicks Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada steaming through Australia’s middle order.
Proteas punish Australia in fourth ODI | 01:55
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Klaasen and Miller combined for a brutal 222-run partnership for the fifth wicket as South Africa registered 5-416 from their 50 overs, a venue record. It was South Africa‘s second-highest team total against Australia in ODIs.
In response, Australia was rolled for 252 in less than 35 overs, with Proteas quicks Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada steaming through Australia’s middle order.
“There’s areas we can definitely tidy up on,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“We weren’t at our best today.
“There are some execution errors there. Can we tidy up some of our plans? No doubt.
“That’s a total we shouldn’t have allowed to happen, but they can happen.”
With the series poised at 2-2, the fifth and final ODI between South Africa and Australia gets underway at Wanderers on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 6pm AEST.