4th over: South Africa 17-1 (de Kock 2, Bavuma 15) De Kock keeps it ticking with a single off the first ball of this Bartlett over. Bavuma throws his hands at a wide one but doesn’t catch it. Bartlett is holding a good length so the South African captain skips down the track to turn a length ball into something close to a half volley, whipping through midwicket for four. Top shot.

3rd over: South Africa 12-1 (de Kock 1, Bavuma 11) Hazlewood is finding some lovely shape through the air. One starts on a leg stump line and arcs towards Bavuma’s off stump, catching the leading edge of a straight drive. But Bavuma finds his groove, leaning into a cover drive for four before dispatching Hazlewood’s over correction, climbing into a mighty pull that clears the ropes at backward square leg. At the top of the over, de Kock got off the mark with a tip and run.

2nd over: South Africa 1-1 (de Kock 0, Bavuma 1) That’s an excellent opening set from Xavier Bartlett. He’s found a great length with a bit of nip both in and away to Bavuma. There’s a shout for lbw but that was lifting off the bouncy deck. He strays on the pads once but Bavuma can’t take advantage so it ends with a maiden.

1st over: South Africa 1-1 (de Kock 0, Bavuma 1). What a start for the visitors and Hazlewood who bagged the big wicket of Markram with the first ball – a short and wide one that was clattered but brilliantly held by Connolly at cover-point. Bavuma, in at first drop, picked up the first run with a nudge off his hips.

The commentators are wondering if Markram could have let that ball go as it was his first.

I’m not sure I agree. I know it’s a 50-over game, but that ball was there to be hit. And he hit it well. Sometimes cricket is like that, though.

That really was a stunning catch from CC. Markram couldn’t have hit that better.

Josh Hazlewood, who was excellent in the opener, will take the first over.

Reminder that Micthell Starc, who usually opens, is not playing.

Vernon Philander on comms says, “the first ten overs will be crucial.”

Aren’t they always? Is there any 10-over cluster that is not crucial?

Anthems now.

We’ll hear both sets again a little later in Perth as the Springboks and Wallabies play on the rugby field.

Today is a warm-up of sorts for fans of both sports ahead of the clashing World Cups next year.

In October 2027, South Africa will host the Cricket World Cup which Australia will defend, while Australia will host the Rugby World Cup, which South Africa will defend.

What a shame they’re not in different months. Of course, I blame the Indian Premier League.

Marco Jansen is doing some pre-match press.

He’s not a great talker, but he is a hell of a cricketer.

Want to know my hot take? By the end of the South African summer – which includes Tests against Bangladesh and England – everyone around the cricket world will agree that he is the best player in the game.

He’s two metres tall. He swings it both ways with his left arm. He can whack sixes and build innings. He catches pigeons across the park. He is a cheat code.

“The ball is going to ping through nicely,” says Shaun Pollock at the pitch inspection.

He says bowling first was the right call.

Will be interesting to see how South Africa’s two spinners go. Both Maharaj and Fortuin are left-arm finger spinners.

I remember watching Adam Gilchrist launch Nicky Boje around the Wanderers as he clobbered the fastest ever Test double ton in 2002.

Should have noted that Inglis has a finger injury, which is why Carey comes in.

News just in…

Ryan Rickelton has withdrawn from South Africa’s team due to “personal reasons”.

He’ll be back for the third ODI on Wednesday.

Hope everything’s OK.

South Africa’s Pink ODI tradition began at the Wanderers in 2013, raising breast-cancer awareness and funds.

The Pink ODI Fund has supported breast-care services at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

I was there for the most famous edition back in 2015 when South Africa made 439-2 against West Indies, then the country’s ODI record. AB de Villiers was unreal, thwacking 149 from 44 balls, reaching his hundred in 31 balls, then the fastest ODI century. Hashim Amla made an unbeaten 153 and Rilee Rossouw 128 as South Africa won by 148 runs.

South Africa remain Australia’s nemesis in this format.

After the first ODI in Durban, the teams had played 114 ODIs: South Africa 58 wins, Australia 52, three ties and one no-result.

Against every other opponent, the Aussies have a superior record.

On the other hand, they also have six World Cup wins while South Africa have yet to get off the mark.

Go on then…

Take another look at the greatest ever run chase in ODI history.