Australia vs South Africa: Cooper Connolly breaks multiple records; also equals Brett Lee in elite list

While they lost their fifth successive bilateral ODI series to South Africa earlier this week, Australia capped off the three-match series with a consolation win of epic proportions. The hosts posted their second-highest ODI total of all time and the highest at home, en route to a mammoth 276-run win against the Proteas. While the batters ruled the roost for Australia, their left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly created an all-time record with the ball in the run fest.

Cooper Connolly has his first 5fa in professional cricket! It's the first time he has taken more than three wickets in a game. #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/MeRNU2Lq7L — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 24, 2025

The 22-year-old came into the attack with the game already virtually sealed for the World Champions. In fact, once they got to 431/2 in their 50 overs, the result seemed a foregone conclusion, even if you factor in the history of that epic 434 run chase in 2006 by a different generation of South African cricketers.

With such a big target, the visitors attacked from ball one and were three down in no time. Dewald Brevis and Tony de Zorzi then stitched a partnership to lend respectability to proceedings before Connolly came into the attack. He removed both set batters and from there on, the innings imploded in a flash. South Africa were bowled in just 24.5 overs with Connolly registering figures of 5-22 from six overs.

Here are some of his major records.

*Youngest Australian to register a five-wicket haul in ODIs

*Best figures by an Australian spinner in ODIs

*First South African spinner to take an ODI five-wicket haul against South Africa

*Joint second-best bowling figures by an Australian bowler against South Africa in ODIs, level with Brett Lee

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