T20 World Cup 2021 has entered the super 12 stage and Australia defeated South Africa in the thrilling first match of the super 12 by 5 wickets.
The match in spite of a low target went till the last over to reach a decision. Both sides performed well.
Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first. Bowling first Aussies managed to restrict South Africa on 118 at the loss of 9 wickets and then chased the target with 5 wickets and 2 balls remaining.
Josh Hazlewood was awarded with player of the match for his splendid bowling spell of 2 for 19 in four overs, playing a crucial role in restricting SA on 118.
Match Summary
Australia won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first. Quinton de Kock and Bavuma came to open the innings for SA.
South Africa faced an early blow in form of their skipper as Bavuma got out in the second over itself on Maxwell’s delivery.
Josh Hazlewood gave SA their second blow in the very next over in form of Van der Dussen. He got out after scoring just 2 runs of 3 balls.
Hazlewood striked again in the 5th over and this time it was Quinton de Kock who lost his wicket. He got out after scoring 7 of 12 balls.
Aiden Markram did hold of an end but wickets kept on falling from the other end.
SA lost their 5th wicket by the 14th over on the score of 80 in form David Miller. Markram’s 40 run in 36 balls and Rabada’s little cameo of 19 runs in the end helped South Africa reach 118 in 20 overs.
David Warner and Aaron Finch came to open the innings and chase the target of Australia.
The partnership could not last long as Nortje gave Australia their first blow in the second over itself in form of their skipper on the score of 4. Finch got out on duck.
Then came Mitchell Marsh to the crease. Warner fired some shots in the next couple of overs but lost his wicket to Rabada in the fifth over itself. Warner got out after scoring 14 runs of 15 balls.
Steven Smith came down in the middle to support the team. SA got their third breakthrough in the 8th over itself in form of Marsh on the score of 38.
SA needed early blows like these to make their comeback in the game. Maxwell now joined Smith in the middle.
Both had the responsibility to progress the scoreboard and take their closer to the target and both did the much needed thing and built up a partnership of 42 runs.
Smith got out in the 15th over after scoring crucial 35 of 34 balls. He lost his wicket to Anrich Nortje.
Maxwell got out in the very next over as Shamsi bowled him on the score of 18 runs. SA made the comeback again after getting two crucial wickets in the span of 4 balls.
Now Stoinis and Wade were on the pitch and from here they both turned the game for the Aussies and steered the team’s scoreboard to victory.
Stoinis scored an unbeaten 24 of 16 balls and Wade returned not-out after scoring 15 of 10 balls.
SA failed to grab more wickets and as the result Australia managed to chase the target of 119 with 5 wickets remaining.
This is a great start for Australia but they’ll he looking forward to get their top order to score runs.
South Africa needs to learn from their mistakes and comeback stronger in the next match.
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