Marnus Labuschagne’s maiden ODI century not enough for Australia in series whitewash
Marnus Labuschagne hit a maiden ODI century on returning to his South African roots – but could not prevent South Africa from completing a series clean sweep in the final one-day clash.
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You can take the boy out of Klerksdorp. But can’t take Klerksdorp out of the boy.
Marnus Labuschagne has made scoring centuries a habit this summer, but there was something particularly special about Saturday night’s maiden ODI hundred in front of 50 members of his family in Potchefstroom – just 50km from the town where he was born.
Racing through to complete the tightest of twos to bring up triple figures, Labuschagne let out an awesome roar to span the distance of how far he’s come from South African immigrant to Australian international star.
The downside was Australia slumped to a 3-0 series loss against South Africa, with the Proteas overnight charging to a comprehensive six-wicket win completed with 27 balls still remaining.
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Labuschagne’s family from Klerksdorp rose as one for the hundred, as did almost every spectator at a packed Senwes Park, with South African flags waving around the ground to honour an Australian hundred.
“Oh look it was amazing. I can’t really describe it in any other way,” said the kid who left as ‘Labu-skagne’ and returned as ‘Labu-shane’.
“When I came back for the two, I didn’t think about what I was going to do. I carried on like a bit of a goose but it was amazing. To have 50 members of my family here from all over South Africa.
“I left so young. I love representing Australia. That’s my country. Although I was born in South Africa, and there’s definitely a little spot there in my heart for the country, but I’m Australian through and through.”
Marnus Labuschagne has come a long way!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 4, 2020
Enjoy a fascinating insight from his debut match in this latest snippet from @thetest_amazon, streaming March 12 on Amazon Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/mvAzUQ36ho
It was a desperately needed ton, with Labuschagne’s run-a-ball 108 – finally out off the second last ball of the innings – single-handedly lifting Australia to 7-254 following yet another disjointed batting performance from the tourists this series.
It was a total that proved far too difficult to defend, particularly with Pat Cummins rested and Mitchell Starc given leave to head home to watch wife Alyssa Healy in the women’s World Cup final.
After being dismissed for the first golden duck of his career in Australia’s last match in Bloemfontein for which his mother’s family had travelled five hours to see, Labuschagne made sure he delivered for the big reunion last night in his sixth ODI game.
His mother, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunties were watching on.
“Both my grandparents were here today. It’s so special,” said Labuschagne.
“The love and support that I’ve gotten from them for a very long time now, since I started playing cricket, when I first started for Queensland, they were always interested and they always cared. It’s really nice to be able to perform in front of them especially after I got a duck last time. But both my grandparents, they’re amazing and it’s a real privilege to have them both here. I think my grandma would have shed some tears today, that’s for sure.
“It was my uncles when we here who threw me balls, my sister when we were in Australia to feed me balls in the bowling machine. Everyone’s played a part in some way or another. My dad used to sit in the chair for hours and hours and either hit (balls) and I’d be taking diving catches or if I missed the throw then I’d have to run around because he’s not going to get off the chair. But that’s just the way it is, family is such a big part of my life.”
Labuschagne has called Brisbane home since he was nine-years old, but his connection to the motherland South Africa remain strong.
With the smell of braais burning on the grassy embankments packed with Potchefstroom university students, and smoke wafting across the ground, Labuschagne looked right at home.
Every shot to the boundary was followed by Afrikaans music bellowing out the loudspeakers, and when he brought up his milestone, the local crowd left allegiances to one side and cheered the Aussie who cut his teeth in a backyard in Klerksdorp.
“I wasn’t nervous at all. I was kind of excited to come back to the place I grew up in was always going to be an exciting experience. But it was nice to hear the cheering and excitement when you do reach those milestones,” he said.
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Labuschagne spent more than a week in South Africa with family before the ODI series began, visiting schools around Rustenburg and dazzling kids with his ability to drift seamlessly between speaking Afrikaans and then his foreign Queensland accept.
Although he declined to answer a question in Afrikaans when asked by a local reporter.
After a press conference he gave before the first one-dayer in Paarl, a local reporter asked Labuschagne after the microphones were turned off whether he still supported South African national teams.
Labuschagne stood stumped for a moment, and then not wanting to open a can of worms, walked away offering a cryptic, “may the best team win!”
But when it comes to wearing Australian cricket colours, there is no one prouder than Marnus.
Labuschagne was extra motivated to kick onto a hundred, after he was earlier responsible for running out Mitchell Marsh at a crucial juncture of the Australian innings.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA
D. Warner c De Kock b Nortje 4
A. Finch c Miller b Dupavillon 22
S. Smith lbw b Phehlukwayo 20
M. Labuschagne b Nortje 108
D. Short c Klaasen b Smuts 36
M. Marsh run out (Miller) 32
A. Carey b Smuts 0
J. Richardson not out 24
K. Richardson not out 0
Extras (lb3, w5) 8
Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Warner), 2-43 (Smith), 3-55 (Finch), 4-136 (Short), 5-189 (Marsh), 6-189 (Carey), 7-253 (Labuschagne)
Bowling: Nortje 7-0-35-2, Sipamla 8-0-40-0 (1w), Dupavillon 6-0-21-1 (1w), Phehlukwayo 7-0-49-1 (3w), Maharaj 10-0-45-0, Klaasen 3-0-19-0, Smuts 9-1-42-2 Did not bat: A. Zampa, J. Hazlewood
SOUTH AFRICA
J. Malan c Carey b Hazlewood 23
Q. de Kock b Hazlewood 26
J. Smuts c Warner b K. Richardson 84
K. Verreynne c Labuschagne b Zampa 50
H. Klaasen not out 68
D. Miller not out 3
Extras (lb3, w1) 4
Total (4 wkts, 45.3 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-47 (De Kock), 2-54 (Malan), 3-150 (Verreynne), 4-229 (Smuts)
Bowling: J. Richardson 10-1-58-0 (1w), Hazlewood 10-1-37-2, K. Richardson 9-0-63-1, Zampa 10-0-45-1, Marsh 1.3-0-21-0, Finch 2-0-11-0, Short 3-0-20-0 Did not bat: A. Phehlukwayo, K. Maharaj, A. Nortje, D. Dupavillon, L. Sipamla
Result: South Africa won by six wickets
Series: South Africa won the three-match series 3-0 Toss: South Africa
Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (RSA), Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)