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Faf Du Plessis, Duminy lead South Africa to big ODI win

Faf du Plessis scored a century, while JP Duminy also starred with the bat as South Africa dominated the second one-day international with Australia.

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Faf du Plessis scored a century and JP Duminy also starred with the bat as South Africa dominated the second one-day international with Australia to take a 2-0 series lead at the Wanderers thanks to a 142-run victory.

The Proteas had won the five-match series opener in comfortable fashion in Centurion thanks to Quinton de Kock's 178 and their potent batting line-up once again showed no sign of missing leader AB de Villiers at the scene of an 872-run thriller between these sides a decade ago.

While lacking the fireworks of that legendary encounter, there was still plenty to cheer for the home faithful, not least Du Plessis' 111, which anchored their innings of 361-6.

Australia's response never really got off the ground, the tourists slumping to 55-3, as an eye-catching maiden ODI fifty for Travis Head proved in vain.

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Visiting captain Steve Smith opted to bowl after winning the toss and entrusted debutants Chris Tremain and Joe Mennie with the new ball.

De Kock and Rilee Rossouw, keeping his place in the team despite Hashim Amla's return to fitness, were rarely troubled by the duo and reached 66 without loss from the first 10 overs.

Having reverted to a support role, De Kock's attempts to pick up the pace cost him as he toe-ended John Hastings (3-57) to Tremain at mid-on, but Du Plessis and Rossouw quickly picked things back up, the captain playing the aggressor.

Du Plessis passed 50 with his 42nd delivery, shortly after Rossouw (75) had given Hastings his second scalp, but further inroads eluded the tourists, with the captain and Duminy offering up a chanceless union.

With 10 overs to go, South Africa had not hit a six, despite Du Plessis bringing up a sixth ODI hundred, but Duminy went about changing that with three maximums in the space of nine deliveries before his charge was halted by chopping on to Mitchell Marsh.

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Late wickets fell as the hosts swung lustily and Andile Phehlukwayo set an imposing total with a four and a six off the final over from Tremain.

Aaron Finch fell for just one in the second over of Australia's response to set the tone, but De Kock's wondrous leg-side catch to remove Smith (14) really swung the momentum.

David Warner made 50, despite George Bailey (9) and Marsh (19) failing to provide adequate support, and his partnership with Head threatened to bludgeon Australia back into the game, but the opener picked out midwicket off his first ball after registering a 16th ODI fifty.

Head and Matthew Wade (33) put on 69 for the sixth wicket, but fell in the space of four balls to kill all Australia's momentum and leave Smith with plenty to ponder as his side's woes on the road go on ahead of the third game in Durban on Wednesday.

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