Australia squeeze past South Africa in close-fought encounter in Abu Dhabi

After restricting South Africa to just 118 for 9, Australia appeared to be in for an easy day with the bat. However, they made hard work of their chase and sealed victory with just two balls remaining

Abu Dhabi: South Africa 118-9, Australia 121-5 - Australia won by five wickets

Scorecard

Australia have started their 2021 T20 World Cup campaign in winning fashion after edging a tense, low-scoring affair against South Africa in Abu Dhabi.

Aaron Finch’s side, who entered the tournament off the back of five successive series defeats, bowled superbly to restrict South Africa to just 118 for 9.

However, they made hard work of their chase, requiring three fours in six balls from Marcus Stoinis to seal a five-wicket win with just two balls remaining.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma got his side off to a bright start, dispatching Mitchell Starc for back-to-back boundaries in the opening over. However, the introduction of Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood to the attack quickly turned the game back in Australia’s favour, with three wickets falling in 17 balls.

Bavuma was the first to depart, bowled for 12 by Maxwell in the second over, and was soon followed by Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa’s no.3 edging Hazlewood through to ‘keeper Matthew Wade.

What a way to go for de Kock!#T20WorldCup | #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/us91w9Jazr

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) October 23, 2021

Hazelwood picked up his second in the fifth over – Quinton de Kock hitting the ball into his thigh pad and watching on helpless as the ball bounced into the stumps to leave the field for seven – and finished the powerplay with figures of 2 for 1.

After six overs, South Africa were in disarray on 29 for 3 and it only got worse two overs later when Pat Cummins removed Heinrich Klaasen for 13 (caught Steve Smith).

Aiden Markram and David Miller briefly stopped the rot, putting on 34 runs in six overs before Adam Zampa struck twice in four balls – Miller pinned lbw for 16 and Dwaine Pretorius caught by Wade for 1 – to reduce South Africa to 82 for 6 at the end of the 14th over. A comical runout executed by Maxwell and Wade saw the back of Keshav Maharaj four balls later.

In the 17th over, South Africa finally had something to cheer, with Markram dispatching Hazlewood for a six – the first of the day – and a four to yield a rare 12-run over. However, his joy would be short-lived as he chipped Starc’s attempted yorker to Maxwell at deep midwicket to fall for a determined 40 (36 balls).

And Starc picked up a second in the final over, combining with captain Finch to remove Anrich Nortje for two, two balls after being hit for six by Kagiso Rabada.

Australia’s chase got off to an almost identical start, with three wickets falling inside the opening eight overs as they slipped to 39 for 3.

Rabada had a hand in the first two wickets to fall, taking the catch to dismiss Finch for a five-ball duck off the bowling of Nortje and removing Warner (caught Klaasen) for 14 in the fifth over, while Maharaj picked up the third, a full delivery deceiving Mitchell Marsh and falling to van der Dussen at deep midwicket.

Smith and Maxwell batted steadily for the next seven overs, sharing a 42-run fourth-wicket stand off 42 balls, before the former was dismissed by a fine diving catch from Markram (bowled Nortje) for 35.

Three balls later, with Australia requiring 38 runs off 29 balls, Shamsi bowled Maxwell to pick up his 50th T20I wicket and give South Africa hope of completing an historic defence. However, with Wade and Marcus Stoinis in the middle, Australia were never out of contention.

Requiring 13 to win off the final eight balls, Stoinis scored a much-needed boundary through midwicket to put Australia within touching distance of victory and he sealed the deal with two balls to spare, slogging Pretorius over the boundary for his third four in six balls.