In a nail-biting T20 series decider between South Africa and Australia (SA vs AUS) in Cairns, there was a masterclass by Glenn Maxwell under pressure as the host took the decider by a two-wicket margin with one ball remaining. Despite an explosive half-century by Dewald Brevis, Australia won the match and the series 2-1.
Australia Survives Middle-Order Collapse in 173-Run Chase
Australia chased 173 with an early flourish courtesy of Mitchell Marsh, who hit early sixes from Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, and a boundary off Kwena Maphaka. Travis Head also gained steam with two boundaries before being dismissed for a laboured 19.
Marsh drove his way to a 35-ball fifty, taking on Senuran Muthusamy with two sixes and keeping the scoreboard moving. But South Africa mounted a comeback, with Maphaka sending Marsh and Cameron Green back in an over to bring the visitors back into the game.
Maxwell’s Match-Winning Knock Saves the Day
With 122/6, the game had begun swinging South Africa’s way, but Glenn Maxwell had otherwise ideas. He waged a measured counterattack, hitting key boundaries against Maphaka, Ngidi, and Rabada. He escorted a scorching 30-ball half-century and turned the game Australia’s way.
In the face of a late setback when Corbin Bosch sent Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis packing, giving away just two runs in the last over before the penultimate one, Maxwell kept his cool. Requiring 10 from the last over, he did a couple, followed by a boundary off point, and concluded the match in fashion with a reverse-hit four that left him unbeaten on 62 off 36 balls.
Brevis Fireworks Light Up South Africa’s Innings
Earlier, South Africa was riding on a scorching knock by young sensation Dewald Brevis, who hammered 53 off a mere 26 balls. After Aiden Markram departed early to Josh Hazlewood, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Brevis gave the team momentum.
Brevis scored his half-century in only 22 balls, the quickest T20I fifty by a South African, also a new record by him, with four huge sixes in an over against Aaron Hardie. But after Nathan Ellis bowled him out with a smart slower bouncer, South Africa lost momentum, folding from 110/3 to 138/6.
Late showers from Rassie van der Dussen (38*), Muthusamy, and Rabada brought them to 172/7, a fighting score, but not quite enough to suppress Maxwell’s brilliance.
Key Performances: Australia vs South Africa 3rd T20
Australia Innings Highlights:
Glenn Maxwell: 62* (36) – Match-winning finisher
Mitchell Marsh: 54 (35) – Solid platform upfront
Corbin Bosch: 3/26 – Important breakthroughs for SA
Kagiso Rabada: 2/32 – Controlled the scoring well
South Africa Innings Highlights:
Dewald Brevis: 53 (26) – Record-breaking T20I fifty
Rassie van der Dussen: 38* – Held the innings together
Nathan Ellis: 3/31 – Key wickets at crucial junctures
Adam Zampa: 2/24 – Controlled the middle overs
Final Scorecard: SA vs AUS 3rd T20
South Africa: 172/7 in 20 overs
(Brevis 53, van der Dussen 38; Ellis 3-31, Zampa 2-24)*
Australia: 173/8 in 19.5 overs
(Maxwell 62, Marsh 54; Bosch 3-26, Rabada 2-32)*
Result: Australia won by 2 wickets and won the T20 series 2-1
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