Fighting to avoid a humiliating clean sweep on home soil, Australia found a much-needed hero in Travis Head in the third ODI at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. The Australian opener made a resounding return to form, blasting a blistering century to anchor the hosts’ innings and put them in a commanding position to salvage some pride in the series.
Travis Head smashes a blistering century in third ODI against South Africa
Emerging from a string of lean performances, Head came out with an aggressive intent that paid immediate dividends. He showed no signs of caution, taking on every South African bowler and putting them on the back foot from the outset. This fearless approach allowed him to dictate terms, scoring runs at a blistering pace. His fantastic century, his seventh in ODIs, was a testament to his attacking mindset, a truly top-notch knock that came in just 80 balls. He raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd and was warmly congratulated by his teammate, Mitchell Marsh.
Head’s innings eventually came to a close on 142 runs from 103 balls. Looking to continue his dominance, he advanced down the pitch to a tossed-up delivery from spinner Keshav Maharaj. However, he misjudged the shot, sending a miscue high into the air towards long-off. Dewald Brevis, with his eyes on the ball, took a safe catch in the deep to end the magnificent innings. As he walked off the field, the crowd rose to its feet, giving him a deserved standing ovation in recognition of his match-defining performance.
Here’s how fans reacted:
A 80 BALLS HUNDRED BY TRAVIS HEAD.
– one of The Finest player of modern era. 👏 pic.twitter.com/46jDvICfm1
— Md Nagori (@Sulemannagori23) August 24, 2025
Travis Head will play next odi match against india in october and look he get his form back 👀 pic.twitter.com/wuPjH55Jd6
— ᵀᴬᴸᴴᴬ 🗿 (@Pasndeeda_Mard) August 24, 2025
The horns are out and the hundred is up for Travis Head! What a player. @BKTtires | #PlayoftheDay | #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/VN89Zjl7KH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 24, 2025
The return of the beast! 🥵💪
Travis Head 👑#TravisHead #AUSvSA #SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/se8Phtny2Z
— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) August 24, 2025
Another ODI 100 for Travis Head . What a match winner he is in all 3 formats 👏
Appreciate the Ronnie James Dio metal horns to celebrate 🤘
Boonie would approve 🎸#HeavyMetalBatting https://t.co/lG40hjbfae pic.twitter.com/lKpCJLmZZ1— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) August 24, 2025
Tests ✅
– ODIs ✅
– T20Is ✅Travis Head is by far the best all-format batter currently in the#AUSVSA
— Shahid (@BhatShahid20779) August 24, 2025
The reason why we call him “HEAD-ACHE”🥵. Travis hits his 7th ODI century!!#Orangearmy | #Playwithfire pic.twitter.com/rspcgE0mSb
— ORANGE ARMY (@SUNRISERSU) August 24, 2025
TAKE A BOW, TRAVIS HEAD.
– Head hammered 142 runs from 103 balls with 17 fours & 5 Sixes in 3rd ODIs vs South Africa, what a madness knock by head.!!🫡 pic.twitter.com/6QUw94Y53g
— MANU. (@IMManu_18) August 24, 2025
Incredible batting performance from Travis Head at Mackay and daunting opening wicket partnership against South Africa
— ANZARUL HASSAN (@anzarul) August 24, 2025
Travis Head: The Beast mode 😯pic.twitter.com/axgQJIuTUl
— Ena (@TheOpinionHub) August 24, 2025
What a monster innings by #Travis_Head pic.twitter.com/J4LAza70WE
— JAHANGEER KHAN AFRIDI (@JahangirkhanAf4) August 24, 2025
Australia’s record-breaking batting carnage against South Africa
In a stunning display of power-hitting, the Australian innings at Mackay was nothing short of a batting masterclass. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Australian openers Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh launched a relentless assault on the South African bowlers. The duo put on a massive 250-run partnership, with both players scoring dominant centuries. Head was the more aggressive of the two, blasting 142 runs off just 103 balls, a knock that included 17 boundaries and 5 sixes. Marsh, a more subdued but equally effective partner, scored a brilliant 100 off 106 balls. Their incredible stand set the platform for a late-innings surge led by Cameron Green, who smashed the second-fastest century in Australian ODI history, reaching his ton off a mere 47 balls. Green, along with a blistering cameo from Alex Carey, helped Australia post a mammoth total of 431 for 2, a score that stands among the highest in ODI history. The South African bowlers were left without answers, with the spinners in particular being ineffective and conceding runs at a high economy rate.
