SA vs Aus: Glenn Maxwell, David Warner share record stand as Australia chase down South Africa’s 204/7
Glenn Maxwell scored a 43-ball 75 in Australia’s win. (Source: AP)
By the time Faf du Plessis was dismissed for 79 by John Hastings on the penultimate ball of the South Africa innings, the home team had closed in on the 200-run mark. And David Wiese hit the last ball for a six, they got to 204/7.
Chasing the target, Australia lost Aaron Finch, Steve Smith and Shane Watson inside the first six overs and were reduced to 32/3. South Africa had done everything right till then. And they continued to do so later as well but two batsmen had another plan.
David Warner and Glenn Maxwell, arguably two of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket, came together in the sixth over. And when Maxwell was out in the 19th over, they had batted South Africa out of the game.
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A record stand of 161-run for the fourth wicket in just 79 balls saw them put their team on the verge of series levelling win. Both were dismissed and Australia needed 11 off the last six balls.
Kasigo Rabada bowled superbly to get Warner out on the first ball. A wide followed it and then James Faulkner took two. Another wide and another two followed. Faulkner took a single on the fifth ball and Mitchell Marsh had to score two runs off the last ball. A yorker was hit over the bowlers head. David Miller fumbled in the field and the batsmen ran two to seal a famous win for Australia.
The batting for South Africa was once again good as Quinton de Kock scored 44 to give them a good start and later a 33-run cameo by David Miller, who played the supporting to Du Plessis, gave the platform for the big total.
The home team’s bowling was way too expensive. Imran Tahir and Wiese went for 109 in their eight overs. With too little to defend in the last two overs, it was Australia’s game from there. On Wednesday, one of the teams will win and claim the series. Before World T20, that would be very important.
