Australia's miserable sporting weekend

Australia's batsman Mitchell Marsh, leaves the field after being bowled by South Africa's bowler Wayne Parnell in Johannesburg on Sunday. Photo / AP

Australia's miserable sporting weekend in Johannesburg has ended with a hefty 142-run defeat overnight in the second one-day international against South Africa.

Australia trail 2-0 in the five-game series after their bowlers were once again put to the sword by the Proteas.

It means in three sporting clashes between the two nations this weekend - two ODIs and Saturday's rugby union Test between the Wallabies and Springboks - the hosts have emerged victorious in every contest.

Searching for answers following their six-wicket defeat at Centurion on Friday, Australia handed debuts to fast-bowling duo Chris Tremain and Joe Mennie for Sunday's clash.

Neither could stop the Proteas posting an imposing 6-361 from their 50 overs, with captain Faf du Plessis scoring 111 (93 balls) and combining with JP Duminy (82 from 77) in a match-winning 150-run third wicket stand.

In reply Australia could only manage 219 before being bowled out in the 38th over.The defeat is the 5th heaviest by runs in Australia's ODI history.

Tremain did pick up his maiden ODI wicket late in the Proteas' innings, finishing with 1-78 off his 10 overs.Mennie claimed 0-82 from his 10 in a tough initiation to international cricket.

John Hastings (3-57) and Mitch Marsh (2-68) were the pick of the bowlers for the tourists. The difference in terms of pace and experience in the two bowling attacks was exposed in brutal fashion when Australia began their run chase.

Kagiso Rabada (2-31) and Dale Steyn (1-37) removed Aaron Finch (1) and Steve Smith (14) early before Wayne Parnell (3-40) chimed in with the wickets of George Bailey (9) and Marsh (19) to reduce Australia to 4-87.David Warner (50) and Travis Head (51) - with his maiden ODI half-century - were the only batsmen to pass the milestone in Australia's innings.

But when they fell as well as Matthew Wade (33), South Africa romped to another comfortable victory.Australia must now avoid defeat in the third ODI in Durban on Wednesday to keep the series alive.