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Shane Watson of Australia bats during game two of the International Twenty20 Series between Australia and South Africa at Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 7, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (GETTY)
James Faulkner was the pick of Australia's fast bowlers as his three wickets helped the hosts to a comfortable victory over South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday to level the three-match Twenty20 series.
South Africa, who took the first match in Sydney by seven wickets on Wednesday, won the toss and opted to bat but were restricted to a paltry 101-7 on the MCG pitch, which was offering steep bounce for the bowlers.
Captain Aaron Finch smashed an unbeaten 44 from 30 balls and added 43 for the opening stand with Ben Dunk (23) as Australia chased down the target in the 13th over, losing only three wickets.
All-rounder Shane Watson, who made 47 in the first match, continued his good form with the bat after his return from a long injury layoff.
Watson hit five boundaries, four of them in an over against medium-pacer Ryan McLaren, in his 23-ball 30 and added 49 for the second wicket with Finch.
Earlier, Faulkner led a strong bowling effort with figures of 3-25 from his four overs. Fellow pacemen Doug Bollinger and Pat Cummins, who bowled a rare maiden over, took a wicket each, while leg-spinner Cameron Boyce also picked up two for 15 in a rounded effort.
"The bowlers were outstanding, blew them away," Finch said
South Africa never recovered after losing two wickets in the first couple of overs and were indebted to JP Duminy's knock of 49 for getting them up to the 100-run mark.
"We were outplayed in all forms today, there's a lot of learning," Duminy said. "I was happy batting first but they blew us a way. Every time we started building partnership they took wickets, so it was difficult for us."
The third and final T20 will be played in Sydney on Sunday.
AUSTRALIA INNINGS
No contribution with the bat from Maxwell as he returns for a duck. Aus 99-3 in 11.5 overs.
Glen Maxwell c Rossouw b Rabada 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)
It was walk in the park as Austrlaia defeat South Africa by seven wickets. Finch remained unbeaten on 44. Aus 102-3 in 12.4 overs.
Watson departs but that's not to bother Australia much as he's already done the damage. Aus 92-2 in 10.5 overs.
Shane Watson c Abbott b Parnell 30 (23b 5x4 0x6)
Finch on 31 while Watson is on 20 as Australia are 78-1 in 8 overs.
Watson deals in boundaries hammering four consecutive hits to the fence as Australia need only another 32 from 78 overs. Aus 70-1 in 7 overs.
Finch already on 25 from 13 balls as he fires another two boundaries to take his fours to six. The hosts need only another 48 runs from 84 balls. Aus 54-1 in 6 overs.
South Africa earn their first wicket. Can they change the situation from here? Dunk looked good before he pulls one straight to Abbott. Aus 43-1 in 4.4 overs.
Ben Dunk c Abbott b Parnell 23 (20b 3x4 0x6)
Finch seems to be in a hurry. He fires another two boundaries in Duminy's over as Australia just need another 66 from 96 balls. South Africa searchign for wickets. Aus 36-0 in 4 overs.
It looks to be an easy one for Australia as Finch slams two successive boundaries. They need 75 from 102 balls. Aus 27-0 in 3 overs.
Two cracking boundaries from Dunk ensures Australia earn 10 runs from the second over. Aus 13-0 in 2 overs.
Dunk and Finch take charge of Australia with not a big target to chase. Abbott opens the bowling for South Africa. Aus 3-0 in 1 over.
SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS
A poor batting display comes to an end as SA could muster only 101-7 in 20 overs
Unlucky Duminy departs on 49 but thanks to a brilliant catch from Finch. SA 97-7 in 18.4 overs.
JP Duminy c Finch b Faulkner 49 (51b 3x4 1x6)
Nothing going right for South Africa as they lose another wicket. McLaren offers a high catch to Faulkner as Cummins bags his first wicket. SA 92-6 in 17.5 overs.
Ryan McLaren c Faulkner b Cummins 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)
Miller falls in an attempt to accelerate the score holing one in the deep to Cummins. SA 90-5 in 17 overs.
David Miller c Cummins b Faulkner 11 (15b 1x4 0x6)
Duminy on 35 from 42 balls. He will be key in the next four overs for South Africa. SA 77-4 in 16 overs.
Boyce finishes off his spell in style giving away only 15 runs in his four overs and also claiming two big wickets. SA 71-4 in 15 overs.
Runs not coming at all for the Proteas. Maxwell keeps it really tight to give away only three runs in his second over. SA 66-4 in 14 overs.
Superb bowling from Boyce as he accounts for another stumping. Brilliant leg spin bowling from him as Behradien misses it completely after stepping out. SA 60-4 in 12.2 overs.
Australian bowlers doing a fantastic job. Another brilliant over from Bollinger as he finishes his spell of four overs giving away 23 runs with a wicket. SA 59-3 in 12 overs.
South Africa would not be happy to see themselves in this situation. The score is way below the expected one. Duminy will need to accelerate if they were to put on a strong total. SA 54-3 in 11 overs.
Half way through the innings, South Africa are 51 for three. Duminy batting on 17 while Behardien on 3.
Stunning bowling from Boyce as Hendricks fails to read the spin. Steps out and gives Dunk an easy opportunity to stump him out. SA 46-3 in 8.4 overs.
Reeza Hendricks st Dunk b Boyce 18 (22b 2x4 0x6)
Great first over from Cummins. A brilliant maiden which should put pressure on the Proteas. SA 44-2 in 8 overs.
Maxwell is hit to the fence of his first delivery but he is tight in the remaining five balls as he leaks eight runs in his first over. SA 44-2 in 7 overs.
Another boundary comes in this over to keep the Proteas momentum going. The partnership is 22 from four overs. SA 36-2 in 6 overs.
A boundary from Hendricks the push with a boundary. But the proteas need this association going. SA 29-2 in 5 overs
Two quick wickets has slowed down the progress of South Africa. Duminy and Hendricks need a partnership here. SA 19-2 in 4 overs.
The dangerman Rossouw is gone and Australia celebrate. It's a big wicket. SA 14-2 in 2 overs.
Rilee Rossouw c & b Faulkner 12 (8b 3x4 0x6)
Rossouw smashes back to back boundaries as he gets to a fine start. SA 9-1 in 1 over.
Australia earn an early wicket as Bolinger bowls a beauty to take the edge off De Kock to the wicketkeeper. SA 1-1 in 0.2 overs.
Quinton de Kock c Dunk b Bollinger 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)
Australia open with De Kock and Hendricks, while Bolinger prepares to bowl.
Playing XI:
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw, JP Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir
Australia: Cameron White, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dunk, Nathan Reardon, James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Cameron Boyce, Doug Bollinger
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