For Australian captain Mitch Marsh, the 98-run defeat was a bitter pill to swallow as his heroic innings of 88 went completely unrewarded. His lone fight against the South African tide was a display of immense character, but it ultimately counted for nothing.
Marsh came to the crease with his team in trouble and watched as the situation deteriorated into a full-blown collapse. Despite the carnage at the other end, he played with a blend of brute force and calculated risk-taking, keeping Australia’s faint hopes alive.
His innings was the only significant contribution in a dismal batting card, a fact that will be of little consolation. As captain, he shouldered the responsibility of the chase but received no support from his middle-order colleagues, who fell like dominoes.
To bat so well and still lose by such a large margin is a frustrating experience for any player. The performance highlighted Marsh’s quality as a batter but also exposed the glaring deficiencies of the team around him.