Australia produced a dominant all-round performance to thrash South Africa by 276 runs in the third and final one-day international in Mackay, preventing a clean sweep after losing the first two games of the series.

Batting first, Australia racked up a mammoth 431-2 in 50 overs — their second-highest ODI total. Travis Head (142 off 103 balls), Mitchell Marsh (100 off 106), and Cameron Green (118* off just 55 balls) all struck centuries, with Green’s explosive knock coming off just 47 deliveries.

In reply, South Africa never found their footing. They crumbled to 155 all out in only 24.5 overs as young Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly, fresh off his 22nd birthday, ripped through the batting order with career-best figures of 5-22.

Despite the heavy loss, South Africa had already sealed the series 2-1 after victories in the first two games.

“A pretty crazy day, wasn’t it?” said Australia captain Mitchell Marsh. “It’s great to finish the series on a high. Credit to South Africa — they outplayed us in the first two games.”

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma admitted his side was under pressure from the start: “They were far better than us today. They batted like it was a completely different surface.”

Keshav Maharaj, who took six wickets across the series, was named Player of the Series for South Africa.

Australia’s highest-ever ODI score remains 434, achieved against South Africa back in 2006.