Australia’s Connolly scripts history with five-for against South Africa #ARYNews https://t.co/jPwZOE9XsW
A day to remember for Cooper Connolly 🔥 https://t.co/2L8XXT9aIg
Cooper Connolly (5/22) is just the second Australian left-arm finger-spinner with an ODI 5-fer! The first? Michael Clarke (5/35 vs SL, Dambulla 2004) https://t.co/FXrD3SrQ8u
Australia’s 22-year-old all-rounder Cooper Connolly produced a career-defining spell of 5 for 22 to secure a 276-run victory over South Africa in the third and final one-day international at Mackay on Sunday. His figures, delivered from just six overs, made him the youngest Australian to claim an ODI five-wicket haul, eclipsing Craig McDermott’s 1987 mark of 22 years and 204 days. They also stand as the best ODI bowling return by an Australian spinner, surpassing Brad Hogg’s 5 for 32 recorded in 2005, and make Connolly only the second Australian left-arm finger spinner—after Michael Clarke in 2004—to register an ODI five-for. Earlier, the hosts amassed 431, powered by centuries from Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head and Cameron Green, with Alex Carey adding an unbeaten 50. South Africa were dismissed for 155 inside 24.5 overs, enabling Australia to avoid a series whitewash and close the three-match campaign 2–1. Connolly’s breakthrough performance, which included becoming the first Australian spinner to secure a five-for against South Africa in ODIs, reinforces his emergence as a key limited-overs option ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.
