Tim David’s 83-run knock, followed by a brilliant bowling display by Josh Hazlewood & Ben Dwarshius, set up victory for the Aussies, Rickelton and Maphaka’s effort in vain.
It was another Tim David special, which helped Australia gain victory in another T20I encounter, this time against the South Africans at Darwin on Sunday to gain a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I showdown.
Australia were in a wobbly situation when they were reduced to 30/3 after being sent to bat. It was Cameron Green who initiated a mini comeback with a 40-run stand with Tim David, but it was again the bowling duo of Kwena Maphaka and Kagiso Rabada who were brutal with the ball today. Maphaka took 4 wickets in his spell, where he just conceded 20 runs.
Things were pretty controlled by South Africans despite Tim David’s onslaught, but then came the 16th over of the first innings when Tristan Stubbs dropped an important catch of Tim David, which gave a new life to Australia, but they were bowled out for 178 runs.
Chasing a target of 179, the Proteas had a wobbly start as they lost their Skipper Aiden Markram early in the chase. It was followed by the wicket of Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis. South Africa went into deep trouble, but it was a rescuing partnership between Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton that brought the visitors back in the chase.
Things took a dramatic turn at Darwin as South Africa were reduced to 123/7 after the wicket of Stubbs as Australia pulled things back in their favour. Ryan Rickelton tried hard to keep the Proteas in the chase, but it was a magnificent effort by Glenn Maxwell at long on, which helped Dwarshius get the match-winning wicket of the Protea left-hander. Not to forget a brilliant bowling spell by Josh Hazlewood, as he also took 3 wickets in Australia’s 179-run defence.
With Australia now winning the first T20I and gaining a lead in this 3-match series, South Africa will have to relook at the batting and fielding failures and need to give a better performance in the next match in order to keep the series alive. On the flip side, the Aussies will also expect their top order to score runs to seal this series early.
