Glenn Maxwell of Australia celebrates his half century throughout the T20 cricket worldwide between Australia and South Africa at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns, Australia, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP
With 4 wanted off the ultimate two balls, Maxwell reverse swiped Lungi Ngidi to 3rd and stayed unbeaten on 62 off 36 balls as Australia reached 173-8 and denied South Africa its maiden T20 sequence win in Australia.
Young T20 batting sensation Dewald Brevis had earlier made 53 off 26 balls that featured 4 sixes in a single over off Aaron Hardie earlier than Australia pulled again properly and restricted the Proteas at 172-7.
Both groups noticed a minute of silence earlier than the sport and paid tribute to former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson, who died on the age of 89.
Captain Mitchell Marsh (54), who gained the toss and elected to chase, and Travis Head had offered Australia a powerful begin of 66-1 in eight overs however South Africa stormed again with 4 wickets in 4 overs.
Head could not capitalize on a chance when South Africa skipper Aiden Markram could not maintain onto a tricky return catch however the left-handed Head spooned a simple catch to quick advantageous leg in the identical over.
Josh Inglis recovered from sickness after lacking out the final sport however was clear bowled by Corbin Bosch off the primary ball he confronted. But Kwena Maphaka dealt a twin blow when each Marsh and Cameron Green could not clear the fielders within the outfield as Australia slipped to 88-4 within the eleventh over.
Experienced quick bowler Kagiso Rabada then eliminated Tim David and Hardie in a single over as Australia additional slipped to 122-6 earlier than Maxwell farmed the strike and shielded Ben Dwarshuis from the South African pacers.
Dwarshuis contributed simply 1 off six balls in a partnership of 41 with Maxwell because the power-hitter did not let the asking fee shoot up.
With 12 wanted off the final two overs, Bosch as soon as once more turned the sport round with the wickets of Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis off successive balls earlier than Maxwell sealed the sport by smashing two boundaries.
“It was slightly bit nerve wracking,” Maxwell mentioned after hitting eight fours and two sixes in his player-of-the-match knock. “When we misplaced a few wickets in a row, Corbin Bosch bowled a superb over to type of hold the run fee close to 9 or 10 … and I in all probability needed to do nearly all of the putting, however it was it was good to get a pair out of the center [of the bat] proper close to the top.”
Earlier, Brevis’ dismissal within the twelfth over proved essential for South Africa when Maxwell plucked a surprising diving catch at extensive mid-on to finish one other blistering knock from a 22-year-old batter because the Proteas might add additional 62 off the ultimate 50 balls.
Brevis hit six sixes and raised his half-century off simply 22 balls when he smacked Hardie for 4 consecutive sixes earlier than he was undone by Ellis’ quick ball and Maxwell took a blinder.
Ellis picked up 3-31 whereas Adam Zampa (2-24) additionally squeezed the runs within the center overs and Josh Hazlewood chipping away with 2-30.G
Published – August 17, 2025 02:40 am IST
