Adam Zampa makes unwanted cricket history in record-equalling ODI horror show

Adam Zampa has equalled the record for most runs conceded by a bowler in a one-day international, as Australia suffered a crushing loss to South Africa on Friday night. Heinrich Klaasen blasted a brutal 174 off just 83 balls as the Proteas won by 164 runs to square the five-match series at 2-2.

Zampa bore the brunt of Klaasen's onslaught, returning figures of 0-113 from 10 overs. It marked the equal-most runs conceded by a bowler in an ODI match after fellow Aussie Mick Lewis also went for 113 runs against South Africa in 2006.

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The leg-spinner gave up eight boundaries and nine sixes in the brutal display in ominous signs before next month's World Cup. Zampa has taken the most ODI wickets for Australia across the last three years, with 61 wickets at an average of 20.18. Despite Friday's horror performance, he will still be Australia's No.1 spinning option at the World Cup in India.

Klaasen combined with David Miller (82 not out off 45 balls) to belt 19 fours and 18 sixes between them. They shared an extraordinary fifth-wicket stand of 222 runs off just 94 deliveries.

Klaasen brought up the the fourth-fastest ODI century by a South African player. Only by AB de Villiers (twice) and Mark Boucher have quicker centuries in the 50-over format.

When he finally holed out to Nathan Ellis in the deep off the final ball of the innings, Klaasen was just four runs short of Quinton de Kock's venue record at Centurion of 178. The Proteas smashed 173 runs off the last 10 overs of their innings to finish on 5-416 - their fifth-highest total in ODIs and their best at the venue. It was the third-highest score ever conceded by an Australian side in the 50-over format.

"To be honest I can't remember the last part of the innings. I’ll have to go back and watch it tonight," Klaasen admitted after the game.

Aussie captain Mitch Marsh said: "Some days guys have a day out. Klaasen was amazing. We got outplayed. Sometimes in international cricket you have to take your hat off."

Travis Head breaks hand in disastrous World Cup blow

Alex Carey made 99 in Australia's reply, but the tourists were bundled out for 252 - marking their second-straight loss by more than 100 runs. After winning the first two games of the series, the Aussies lost the third ODI by 111 runs.

To make matters worse, they also lost Travis Head to a broken hand and might be without him for the World Cup. Head retired hurt after being struck on the glove by a delivery from Gerald Coetzee, and coach Andrew McDonald later confirmed the break.

With Australia's first World Cup match to take place on October 8 against India, Head will be battling to prove his fitness. "It's a confirmed fracture," McDonald said. "As to the nature of what sort of time frame that lends itself to, that will be assessed tomorrow.

"I think he's going to go in for more scans tomorrow to get a detail of that, then we'll work out the management of it from there. I'm not a medical person but I think it's a bit higher up than the finger itself ... it's in a joint (in the hand) somewhere. Fingers crossed with the World Cup fast approaching."

The final match of the series will take place on Sunday in Johannesburg. The Aussies will then head to India for a three-match series before the World Cup gets underway.

Worst bowling figures in ODI history (men's):

• 0-113 – Mick Lewis - Australia v South Africa, 2006

• 0-113 – Adam Zampa - Australia v South Africa, 2023

• 0-110 – Wahab Riaz - Pakistan v England, 2016

• 0-110 – Rashid Khan - Afghanistan v England, 2019

• 0-108 – Philippe Boissevain - Netherlands v England, 2022

with AAP

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