Bavuma bemoans Proteas attack's lack of discipline and killer instinct: 'It wasn't great'

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma made no effort to paper over the failings of his somewhat capricious attack despite the apparent comfort of a superficially close loss to Australia in the first ODI in Bloemfontein on Thursday night.

Yet in reality, the three-wicket loss does little to alleviate mounting doubts over South Africa's form with the Cricket World Cup in India around the corner.

It's true that there are still four matches remaining in the current series, but - taking the T20 series whitewash into account - they've now lost four on the trot within the space of the week.

Asked to bat first on an uncharacteristically slow Mangaung Oval surface, the Proteas were indebted to Bavuma, whose magnificent, unbeaten 114 underpinned a battling total of 222.

He became only the second South African after Herschelle Gibbs in 2000 to carry his bat in a completed ODI innings.

However, despite the very clear example of the disciplined Aussie attack on how to bowl on that pitch, South Africa lacked nuance and consistency with the ball.

"In terms of the way we bowled, it's no secret that the way we went about things in the first 10 overs wasn't great," said Bavuma, referring to the fact that his bowlers leaked 69 runs in the first power-play.

"While we were able to get [four] wickets, it came at a cost that never really gave us the opportunity to keep the game under control, especially since we didn't have the runs to play with as well.

"The way the Australian batters were able to free their arms and hands while batting - when they allowed us nothing when bowling - also wasn't part of the plan. It's an execution thing."

READ | Methodical Marnus trumps terrific Temba as Aussies down Proteas in bizarre first ODI

Still, the encouragingly dynamic