Breetzke's fifty holds South Africa together as Australia strike at Kingsmead

Matthew Breetzke reached a 54-ball fifty to hold South Africa's innings together after Australia's bowlers struck four times in the first ODI at Kingsmead

South Africa were 138 for 4 from 28 overs in Durban on Thursday, with Breetzke, who had reached fifty from 54 balls, still at the crease alongside David Miller, after Australia won the toss and put the hosts in.

Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis removed both openers inside the powerplay, and Adam Zampa then picked up two through the middle overs to stop the innings settling.

The hosts came into the match without four frontline quicks, and Australia handed a first ODI cap to the seam-bowling all-rounder Jack Edwards.

Hazlewood and Ellis strike inside the powerplay

Hazlewood bowled Tony de Zorzi for a duck in the fourth over, leaving South Africa 6 for 1 with barely a run on the board.

Quinton de Kock had already pulled the first six of the innings before Ellis had him for 14, and the second wicket fell at 29 in the eighth over.

South Africa closed the ten-over powerplay on 40 for 2, with Hazlewood's figures reading 1-14 and Ellis's 1-6.

Breetzke holds an end

Breetzke and Temba Bavuma repaired the innings either side of the drinks break, taking the score to 83 before the captain fell in the 19th over.

Ryan Rickelton made 27 from 26 balls in a brisk stand that reached 125, ending when Matt Renshaw caught him off Zampa in the 25th over.

Zampa's two wickets cost 23 runs from his first five overs, the most economical spell of the innings to that point.

Breetzke brought up his fifty with seven fours and a six, and was still there with Miller as South Africa passed the halfway mark of their innings.

South Africa's fast-bowling shortage

Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka are all unavailable with hamstring injuries, stripping the hosts of the attack they usually build around at home.

"As a South African team, we build it around our fast bowlers. We want teams when they come here to South Africa to know that they're going to have to deal with our fast bowlers," Bavuma said before the match.

"KG (Rabada), Lungi – those are not guys that you can just replace at the drop of the hat," he added.

Gerald Coetzee returned to the side after three years away, with Bjorn Fortuin and Keshav Maharaj giving Bavuma two frontline spinners. Aiden Markram was unavailable for this match.

Edwards debuts as Australia field a fuller side

Edwards, a 26-year-old New South Wales all-rounder, had played one T20I before Thursday, against Pakistan in Lahore earlier this year.

Cameron Green returned after recovering from a shoulder problem, Mitchell Starc played his first match of the tour, and Josh Inglis took the gloves in place of Alex Carey.

Mitchell Marsh led the side in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is being held back for the Test series that follows the ODIs.

"Pat's main focus is the Test group, and a lot of our bowlers – and him in particular – are preparing for that Test series," Marsh said. "I'm hopeful that he'll feature in this series at some stage."

Three matches on the road to 2027

Australia arrived in Durban having swept Zimbabwe 3-0, but they have not won a bilateral ODI series against South Africa since 2014.

The series moves to the New Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday and finishes at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on 30 September.

Both sides are taking early steps towards the 2027 World Cup, which South Africa will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Live: South Africa 138 for 4 from 28 overs against Australia, first ODI, Kingsmead, Durban.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.