Australia utilised their middle-order to chase down 119 and beat South Africa by five wickets in the first Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup.
The hype was finally over. Australia vs South Africa. A clash of the Titans. Or at least that was expected.
The Proteas looked up for it when their skipper Temba Bavuma played two beautiful cover drives off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.
The introduction of spin, however, saw Bavuma (12 off 7 balls) stuck in his crease and bamboozled by Glenn Maxwell as the ball crashed into the stumps.
Whether it would be spin or seam that would hassle them, was difficult to read, as Rassie van der Dussen edged Josh Hazlewood’s first delivery to the keeper.
South Africa was under early pressure after losing their third in the most bizarre fashion. Quinton de Kock moved across outside off-stump to scoop a back-of-a-length delivery, but he played it onto his thigh pad and it bounced into the crease, the backspin directing the ball into the stumps. SA found themselves on 23/3 after 4.1 overs.
Klaasen was next to fall, edging the out-of-form Pat Cummins to the safe hands of Steve Smith at backward point. SA 4 down for 46.
It was now up to David Miller and Aiden Markram to consolidate South Africa’s chances in the clash.
They looked like they may answer the call for a little while until Miller miss-timed a sweep shot to be caught lbw off Adam Zampa.
The mix-up in the middle between Keshav Maharaj and Markram summed up the day, South Africa failing to shake the run out voodoo of World Cups past.
Markram was the only batter to impress, he managed 40 off 36 balls (3 fours and a six), but lost his wicket with his side shy off the 3 figure mark.
The Proteas scored 118-9 in their 20 overs.
The bowlers showed what they are capable of. Anrich Nortje dismissed Aaron Finch for a duck, and Kagiso Rabada got David Warner for 14, as Australia were down two wickets for 20 runs.
They continued to fight as Keshav Maharaj picked up the wicket of the dangerous Mitchell Marsh for 11 off 17 balls. The Proteas managed to keep Australia in check somewhat, after 10 overs they were 51-3.
A 35 off 34 balls from Steve Smith transferred pressure back onto South Africa, until a sensational diving catch from Aiden Markram 20 yards in from the long-on boundary, Nortje picking up his 2nd.
Shamsi then gave the Proteas even more hope after taking his 50th wicket in T20I cricket- bowling Glenn Maxwell who attempted a slog sweep.
At the end of the 16th over, Australia needed 36 runs off 24 balls. This was quickly reduced to 25 needed off 18 balls thanks to two brave boundaries from Matthew Wade.
Dwaine Pretorius needed to be accurate and controlled if he was to save the game. He conceded just 7 in the 18th over. Nortje was trusted to bowl the penultimate over with Australia on 101-6 needing 18 runs to win.
Nortje conceded 9. It was now up to our cover man Pretorius to defend 8 from the final over.
Australia managed to win by 5 wickets.
PHOTO: EPA/DAVID GRAY AUSTRALIA AND
