Josh Inglis’ fighting innings of 87 from 74 balls had no support as Australia’s batters crumbled again to fall to South Africa by 84 runs in the second ODI at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

The defeat endured that South Africa has already wrapped up the three-match series, and it is their fifth straight series victory against Australia in ODIs.

Mitchell Marsh’s side are in a rut in the 50-over format, losing their last three bilateral series with batting frailties a key feature throughout.

The Australians have won just two of their last ten ODIs, and Friday night’s collapse was the sixth time since the beginning of last summer that they have been bowled out for under 200.

Lungi Ngidi was the chief destroyer with the ball for the visitors, with fivewicketse,t s after Matthew Breetzke crunched the top score of the match with 88 off 78 as the Proteas made 277 all out after stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the tossBreetzkee’s became the first male to pass fifty in their first four ODIs, and Australia’s batters would be desperate to capture some of the 26-year-old’s form with the bat.

Inglis, who cracked ten fours and two sixes, walked to the crease with the hosts reeling at 3/38 with Travis Head (6), Marnus Labuschagne (1) and skipper Mitchell Marsh (18) all back in the sheds.

Most concerning was how they fell with Head and Marsh skying catches to mid on, while Labuschagne chased a wide delivery from Ngidi and edged it through to the keeper.

Cameron Green (35) combined for a 67-run stand with Inglis before he fell caught and bowled to left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy.

Test gloveman Alex Carey (13) picked out Dewald Brevis at backwards point before Aaron Hardie (10) chipped a return catch to Lungi Ngidi after being deceived by a slower delivery.

Inglis was simply unable to find a partner to stay with him until he eventually edged behind after advancing at Ngidi, and the tail fell quickly, losing the last five wickets for just 18 runs.

Nevertheless, it was a welcome return to form for the gloveman after being dismissed for 5 in the first ODI and a pair of golden ducks in the T20S.

Australia could have been in even worse trouble early in their run chase if not for Tristan Stubbs dropping Cameron Green's first ball at second slip and Mitchell Marsh at cover.

Stubbs has grassed six chances so far this tour, across the T20S and ODIs, but neither Australian batter was able to cash in on their reprieve.

Inglis was put down by Tony de Zorzi at cover shortly before reaching his half-century, at least making the Proteas pay.

With the ball, Labuschagne’s heroics triggered a late fightback by Australia.

Labuschagne’s leg spin pumped the brakes on the Proteas’ innings, taking 2/19 from his five overs, while Adam Zampa snared three wickets and Cameron Green snaffled four excellent outfield catches.

Breetzke officially completed the best start to a men’s ODI career ever with his 88.

The 26-year-old right-hander scored his fourth fifty in as many matches since making his debut, and according to ESPN Cricinfo, he is the first male to raise their bat in their first four appearances in the 50-over format.

Breetzke, who made 150 on debut against New Zealand earlier this year, also smashed teammate Temba Bavuma’s record of 280 for the most runs scored in a batter’s first four ODIs with 378.

He fell on the stroke of a drinks break with 19 overs remaining, however, caught by Alex Carey at the unfamiliar position of deep square leg after top edging a Nathan Ellis (2/46) slower ball bouncer.

From that point on, the visitors only managed to add 98 more runs to their total, losing six wickets to be all out for 277 in 49.1 overs.

Stubbs (74 off 87) threatened to push the visitors towards 300, but fell to Zampa once he was left with only the tail.

Earlier, the recalled Xavier Bartlett (2/45) struck twice in the opening six overs.

The Queenslander, in just his third ODI and his first since February last year, had stand-in South African skipper Aiden Markram caught at forward square leg by Travis Head for a fourth-ball duck.

Shortly after Bartlett removed Markam’s fellow opener Ryan Rickleton, caught behind by a diving Josh Inglis, for 8, to have the visitors in trouble at 2/23.

The recalled Tony de Zorzi and Breetzke then justified Markram’s decision to bat first, with an impressive 67-run partnership, highlighted by Breetzke taking 16 runs off Aaron Hardie’s opening over.

The introduction of Zampa broke the stand between the inexperienced right-hand/left-hand combination, with a de Zorzi leading edge gifting the leg spinner a simple return catch to close out the leg-spinner’s opening over.