While they lost their fifth successive bilateral ODI series to South Africa earlier this week, Australia capped off the three-match series with a consolation win of epic proportions. The hosts posted their second-highest ODI total of all time and the highest at home, en route to a mammoth 276-run win against the Proteas. While the batters ruled the roost for Australia, their left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly created an all-time record with the ball in the run fest.
The 22-year-old came into the attack with the game already virtually sealed for the World Champions. In fact, once they got to 431/2 in their 50 overs, the result seemed a foregone conclusion, even if you factor in the history of that epic 434 run chase in 2006 by a different generation of South African cricketers.
With such a big target, the visitors attacked from ball one and were three down in no time. Dewald Brevis and Tony de Zorzi then stitched a partnership to lend respectability to proceedings before Connolly came into the attack. He removed both set batters and from there on, the innings imploded in a flash. South Africa were bowled in just 24.5 overs with Connolly registering figures of 5-22 from six overs.
Here are some of his major records.
*Youngest Australian to register a five-wicket haul in ODIs
*Best figures by an Australian spinner in ODIs
*First South African spinner to take an ODI five-wicket haul against South Africa
*Joint second-best bowling figures by an Australian bowler against South Africa in ODIs, level with Brett Lee