Abu Dhabi (UAE): Australia on Saturday opened the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 with a nervy five-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring contest.
Having restricted the Proteas to 118 for eight, Australia slipped to 38 for three in reply before Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell’s partnership of 42 set the platform for Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade to see Justin Langer’s side home with two balls to spare.
Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc had all picked up two scalps as South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals to leave Australia needing less than six an over at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Aiden Markram struck a fluent 40 off 36 balls to top score for the Proteas but he ran out of partners as Australia got their campaign off to a winning start.
After being put into bat, captain Temba Bavuma got South Africa off to a flyer in the first over by taking Starc for 11 runs, including two lovely fours through the off side.
But he was bowled by Maxwell, utilising his handy off-spin early in the powerplay, in the second over for 12.
His replacement at the crease, Rassie van der Dussen, soon followed his skipper back to the hutch after making just two when he nicked Hazlewood’s first ball behind to Wade.
It went from bad to worse when Quinton de Kock was bowled in bizarre fashion after attempting to flick a Hazlewood delivery on the move, only to see it cannon off his leg and balloon into the air and back onto the stumps.
Hazlewood completed his wicket maiden before South Africa stuttered to 29 for three at the end of the powerplay.
Markram and Heinrich Klassen looked like they were building the first partnership of note before Pat Cummins had the latter caught off a thick outside edge for a run-a-ball 13.
Playing a sole hand, Markram put on 34 for the fifth wicket with David Miller until leg-spinner Adam Zampa rocked South Africa with two wickets in the 14th over.
Miller was trapped in front for 16 before Dwaine Pretorious was sharply caught by Wade for just one to leave the Proteas reeling at 82 for six.
Things did not improve when Keshav Maharaj was run out by Maxwell after slipping when trying to get off the mark from an overthrow.
Markram took his frustration out on the returning Hazlewood, slamming a huge six into the crowd over the leg side, but fell to Cummins when trying to up the ante, with South Africa yet to bring up their 100 with only three overs left.
Brief Scores: South Africa 118/9 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 40, Kagiso Rabada 19 not out; Josh Hazlewood 2/19, Adam Zampa 2/21) lost to Australia 121/5 in 19.4 overs (Steve Smith 35, Marcus Stoinis 24 not out; Anrich Nortje 2/21, Tabraiz Shamsi 1/22)
Player of the Match: Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
