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29 March 2024

South Africa v Australia 3rd T20: Australia cruise to comfortable series win

Brad Hodge of the Stars bats during the Big Bash League at the WACA on January 16, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (GETTY)

Published
By Correspondent

 Australia comfortably chased down a modest target set by South Africa to win the third Twenty20 international by six wickets at SuperSport Park and take the series 2-0 after the first game was washed out.

A quickfire 39 off 27 balls from opener Aaron Finch set the platform for the victory as Australia reached 129 for four with five overs to spare in reply to South Africa's 128 for seven off 20 overs.

The home side struggled on a slow and difficult pitch and only opener Quinton de Kock, who scored 41, emerged with any plaudits as wickets fell around him.

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc produced an impressive variation of pace to take two wickets and, as importantly, concede just 16 runs in his four overs.

Finch and Cameron White did not seem to have the same difficulty with the wicket, amassing a quick 43 runs in the first five overs as Australia switched their dominance from ball to bat.

Shane Watson pitched in with 35 off 28 balls to ease the touring side to victory.

"It puts us in a good way for the World T20," he told reporters.

On Wednesday, Australia produced an exhibition of ferocious batting to edge South Africa in the last over of a match reduced by rain to just seven overs each in Durban.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Australia hardly wasted any time before sealing off an easy six-wicket victory in the third Twenty20 International to win the series 2-0 in Centurion, South Africa.

Needing 129 to win, Aaron Finch smashed a 27-ball 39 while Shane Watson hammered a 28-ball 35 to provide a strong foundation. Glenn Maxwell (17), George Bailey (12 not out) and Brad Hodge (11) all contributed to see Australia through with five overs to spare.

Earlier, South Africa managed only 128 for seven in 20 overs. Quinton de Kock top scored with 41 with none of the other batsmen coming good. Albie Morkel cracked two sixes during his brief stay to score 18 while Wayne Parnell hit 17.

Australian bowlers were impressive with Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell claiming two wickets each.

Australia secure easy win as Hodge scores the winning run. Aus 129-4 in 15 overs.

Watson goes for a wild swing and he is gone. Tahir is the man as he gets his second wicket. Aus 107-4 13.1 overs.

Shane Watson c du Plessis b Imran Tahir 35 (28b 2x4 2x6)

Hendricks makes an delayed appeal and he gets it. Maxwell smiles as he departs. Aus 105-3 in 12.4 overs.

Glenn Maxwell lbw b Hendricks 17 (12b 2x4 0x6)

Super over for Australia as Watson hammers two sixes and Maxwell gets a fine boundary. Aus 103-2 in 12 overs.

Australia are 85-2 in 11 overs

Australia going quiet at the moment. Watson on 17. They need 55 from 60 balls. Aus 74-2 in 10 overs.

A brilliant over from Tahir. He gets a wicket but also ensures no easy runs are taken. Aus 69-2 in 9 overs.

Tahir does the damage. Removes a well settled Finch as he holes one in the deep to Miller. Aus 67-2 in 8.1 overs.

Aaron Finch c Miller b Imran Tahir 39 (27b 6x4 0x6)

Watson playing sensibly. Gets the occasional boundary but keeps the scoreboard running with singles. Aus 67-1 in 8 overs.

Tahir bowls a fine opening over. Just four off it. Aus 59-1 in 7 overs.

Watson gets his first four as Australia cross 50. Aus 55-1 in 6 overs.

South Africa get their first wicket. That should bring them back into the game. Good catch from Tahir in the deep. Aus 43-1 in 14.5 overs.

Cameron White c Imran Tahir b Parnell 14 (11b 2x4 0x6)

11 runs coming off that over of Tsotsobe. Aus 38-0 in 4 overs.

Australia openers in pristine touch. Both Finch and White get a boundary each. Aus 27-0 in 3 overs.

White hits a boundary as Australia reach 18-0 in 2 overs.

Finch smashes two boundaries as Australia are 10-0 in 1 over.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

South Africa are 110-7 in 18 overs.

Lovely yorker from Starc and Morkel is gone. He entertained the crowd for a brief while though. SA 103-7 in 16.3 overs.

Albie Morkel b Starc 18 (11b 0x4 2x6)

A superb six from Morkel and South Africa get closer to the three-digit score. SA 97-6 in 16 overs.

A fine over from Henriques before Parnell smashed straight over the umpire's head for a boundary. A welcome four for Proteas. SA 86-6 in 15 overs.

Australia lose another after Hogg bowls a beauty. It takes the edge of De Kock to the 'keeper. SA 81-6 in 13.5 overs.

Quinton de Kock c Haddin b Hogg 41 (40b 2x4 2x6)

South Africa in real trouble here. David Miller offers a simple catch as he too departs without much contribution. SA 75-4 in 12.4 overs.

David Miller c Bailey b Henriques 2 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Another excellent over from Maxwell. Just four runs off it. De Kock on 36 from 33 deliveries. SA 72-4 in 12 overs.

Australia bowlers have done a commendable job. They are not allowing the Proteas settle in. Another wicket lost and it's the big one of AB de Villiers. SA 68-4 in 10.5 overs.

AB de Villiers c Hodge b Hogg 11 (10b 0x4 1x6)

Halfway through their innings South Africa are not is a great position but they still have some big hitters lined-up. SA 58-3 in 10 overs.

De Villiers hits a big one but not quite from the middle. A good over for South Africa. SA 56-3 in 9 overs.

JP Duminy goes as he does not get the distance. The pressure is taking on the Proteas batsmen. SA 44-3 in 7.3 overs.

JP Duminy c Henriques b Maxwell 13 (16b 2x4 0x6)

Australian bowlers are keeping it tight but De Kock and Duminy have been managing to get those odd boundaries. SA 43-2 in 7 overs.

Duminy gets another boundary but nothing much after that from Maxwell. Another good over for Australia. SA 34-2 in 6 overs.

A fine over from Henriques. Just a boundary to Duminy. SA 28-2 in 5 overs.

That's another gone for South Africa. That's problem for the hosts. Faf du Plessis looked promising. He offers a simple catch to Hogg mid-off. SA 20-2 in 3.4 overs

Faff du Plessis c Hogg b Maxwell 5 (6b 1x4 0x6)

Amla has no clue as he is trapped in front of a lovely delivery from Starc. SA 15-1 in 2.3 overs

Hashim Amla lbw b Starc 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

De Kock in command. Smashes a boundary and a six off Coulter-Nile. SA 13-0 in 2 overs.

A great start for Australia as Starc opens bowling with a maiden over. His last delivery hits de Kock on his helmet. Thankfully nothing to worry. SA 0-0 in 1 over.

Quinton de Kock and Hasim Amla open for South Africa. Mitchell Starc takes the ball for Australia.

Australia have won the toss and elected to bowl first. For Australia, David Warner is replaced by Cameron White and Moises Henriques also gets a call. South Africa has called AB de Villiers and Imran Tahir.

Playing XI:

South Africa:
Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Beuran Hendricks, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir.

Australia: Shane Watson, Aaron Finch, Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brad Hogg.

South Africa will be eager to stop Australia winning another series as the visitors lead the T20 series 1-0 when they face off in the last and final match at Chenturion, SOuth Africa.
 
The first T20 was washed out without a ball being bowled at Port Elizabeth on March 9 and the second T20 was won by Australia after it was reduced to seven overs a side.