Marco Jansen for South Africa [Source: AFP]South Africa found themselves needing a late-order rescue act during the first ODI against Australia in Durban on Thursday, September 24. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Marco Jansen walked in with the innings needing both stability and acceleration. Marco Jansen then produced a powerful counterattack at Kingsmead, contributing with one of the most significant lower-order knocks at or below No. 7 by a South African cricketer against Australia.Marco Jansen's heroics in SA vs AUS ODI puts him over Shaun PollockJansen's 75-run knock in the SA vs AUS 1st ODI, has taken him past South African legend Shaun Pollock in a rare batting list involving South African players against Australia while batting at No. 7 or lower.Jansen's 75 is now the second-highest score by a South African in that position against Australia, with only Lance Klusener's 83 in Johannesburg in 2002 standing above him.The list makes Jansen's achievement even more notable, particularly because he has moved ahead of Pollock, who previously held the second position with his highest score of 69. PlayerSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMatchesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableHighest ScoreSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableLance KlusenerSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table11SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table385SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table83SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMarco JansenSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table8SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table235SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table75SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableShaun PollockSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table41SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table575SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table69SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMark BoucherSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table19SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table259SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table55*SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableJustin KempSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table116SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table49*SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table [South Africa batters at No. 7 or lower against Australia in ODIs]Klusener's 83 remains the benchmark on the list. Pollock, meanwhile, slips to third despite having played considerably more matches in the Australia-South Africa rivalry.Pollock's place on this list also reflects his value as a lower-order contributor during his international career. The former South Africa captain finished with 575 runs in 32 innings against Australia, including two fifties, with his best score being 69 back in 2006 at Gqeberha.Also Read- Marco Jansen Pips Faf du Plessis; Reaches New Heights With Eden Gardens MasterclassHow Jansen rescued South Africa against Australia?South Africa's innings was partially wobbling when Marco Jansen arrived at the crease. Tony de Zorzi was dismissed for just 0, Quinton de Kock made 14, and captain Temba Bavuma's 30 could not provide the platform South Africa needed.Matthew Breetzke then produced a crucial 112 off 106 balls with some powerful sixes, but wickets continued to fall around him. Ryan Rickelton made 27 before David Miller was removed for just 9, leaving South Africa at 168/5.That was when Jansen joined Breetzke. The pair stitched together a vital 107-run partnership, transforming South Africa's innings and taking the score from 168/5 to 275/6. Jansen was particularly aggressive during the stand, eventually finishing with 75 off 59 balls.His innings contained seven fours and four sixes, giving him a strike rate of 127.12. Rather than simply blocking his way through the pressure, Jansen attacked when opportunities presented themselves and ensured South Africa had a competitive total.South Africa eventually reached 297/8, with Jansen's contribution proving crucial to their recovery after the middle-order collapse.Marco Jansen's recent form breakthroughJansen's innings also comes after a relatively quiet period with the bat across his recent franchise and international assignments.At the T20 World Cup 2026, he scored 73 runs in three innings at an impressive strike rate of 169.77, including a 55 off 30 balls in the semi-final against New Zealand.However, his returns dropped during IPL 2026, where he managed 51 runs in five innings for Punjab Kings. His Hundred campaign for Welsh Fire was quieter still, with only 13 runs from five innings.Also Read- Wanindu Hasaranga Ruled Out Of England ODI Series
