Australia vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Highlights: Wade, Stoinis guide AUS to 5-wicket win

Josh Hazlewood, PoTM: I think length was the key. It was just about hitting the right length, aiming for the top of the stumps. 

Quinton de Kock is pretty good at that ramp shot, so we had a fielder back there, but luckily it came off his glove and hit the wicket.

I’m not sure why the score was so low. The wicket seemed reasonably good, I think it was just stopping and a bit slow. In the morning it can be like that, but at night I think it’ll get better.

We’ve got a few good options in the bowling line-up, and Maxwell did well.

Australia win by 5 wickets!

After 20 overs,Australia 121/5 ( Marcus Stoinis 24 , Matthew Wade (W) 15)

Australia need 8 runs from 6 balls. This is so much closer than anyone would have expected. Oh great running, it’s a double and both batters run their lungs off. OH MY WORD, PELTED STRAIGHT DOWN THE GROUND FOR FOUR! Stoinis almost took the umpire’s head off with that! Probably the match-winning shot that. 2 needed off 4. Dot ball. Stoinis hits a four to the midwicket boundary to ensure that Australia get off to a winning start in the tournament!

After 19 overs,Australia 111/5 ( Marcus Stoinis 14 , Matthew Wade (W) 15)

Anrich Nortje’s last over. If he can take a wicket here, it would be massive for South Africa. Australia need 18 runs in 12 balls. Single to begin. Oh, it was drilled straight back at Nortje by Stoinis, but the South African can’t hang on to the ball, there was too much power in that shot. Stoinis runs two. Two singles follow and then FOUR!! It’s a shorter delivery, and Stoinis manages to pull over mid-wicket for a boundary. Single to end the over.

After 18 overs,Australia 101/5 ( Marcus Stoinis 6 , Matthew Wade (W) 13)

Pretorious will bowl his third over. It’s bowled quite wide, but Stoinis steps across and pulls it. It’s straight to a fielder though, just a single. Wide, it was millimeters on the wrong side of the line. Wade runs a single. Four more singles to end the over. 7 off it.

After 17 overs,Australia 94/5 ( Marcus Stoinis 3 , Matthew Wade (W) 10)

Kagiso Rabada’s final over now. Starts with three singles and then it’s a FOUR for Wade! Oh, it was a really tough catch for Markram at mid-off, who made up a lot of ground in his attempt to take it, but ultimately, the ball worms out from under him and zips off to the boundary. Dot and then another boundary! Wade shuffles across and lifts it over short fine leg.

After 16 overs,Australia 83/5 ( Marcus Stoinis 1 , Matthew Wade (W) 1)

Bowled ’em! Tabraiz Shamsi gives South Africa reason to believe as he gets the wicket of Glenn Maxwell! This could be headed for a very close finish! Shamsi concedes just two runs from the over.

After 15 overs,Australia 81/4 ( Glenn Maxwell 18 , Marcus Stoinis 0)

Anrich Nortje to bowl his third over. Single and a dot to begin, and then there’s a big call for LBW. It appeared to be too high, and the South Africans seem to agree, they don’t review despite having appealed vociferously just seconds ago. Oh, nice work from Steve Smith, pulled for FOUR! Oh Aiden Markram take a bow! The South Africa fielder takes a gorgeous diving catch, and Steve Smith is sent back to the dugout. Notje has the wicket!

After 14 overs,Australia 75/3 ( Steven Smith 31 , Glenn Maxwell 17)

A third over for Shamsi, and it begins with a FOUR! Dispatched over backward point with ease by Maxwell. Single, dot and two singles follow. Australia’s scoreboard is ticking along quite nicely at the moment. Dot to end the over.

After 13 overs,Australia 68/3 ( Steven Smith 30 , Glenn Maxwell 11)

Maharaj continues, dot and two singles to begin, before Smith makes a little bit of room for himself and lofts this over extra cover for FOUR! Two singles to end the over.

After 11 overs,Australia 55/3 ( Steven Smith 21 , Glenn Maxwell 7)

Maharaj’s third over now. Starts with a couple of singles. This should be a fairly easy finish for Australia from hereon out, but it is proving to be a little more difficult than they would have anticipated at the end of the first innings. Two more singles and then two dots to end the over.

After 10 overs,Australia 51/3 ( Steven Smith 19 , Glenn Maxwell 5)

All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius introduced now. Keeps things tidy in his first over by giving away four singles, as the Aussies cross the 50-mark at the halfway stage. Smith and Maxwell had forged a solid partnership in the warmup game against India, and the Proteas will be wary of their influence on the game. Another wicket or two here, and the South Africans could very well be considered front-runners.

After 9 overs,Australia 47/3 ( Steven Smith 17 , Glenn Maxwell 3)

A welcome boundary for the Aussies in this over as Smith plays a late cut off Maharaj to guide the ball towards the third man region. But he survives twice two balls later, first a thick inside edge missing the stumps, followed by Smith narrowly escaping being run out after being sent back to the striker’s end last minute. Eight from ninth over.

After 8 overs,Australia 39/3 ( Steven Smith 11 , Glenn Maxwell 1)

The lack of boundaries does get the better of the Aussies in the end, as Marsh ends up getting caught by van der Dussen in deep midwicket while looking to break the shackles in Maharaj’s second over. The big-hitting Glenn Maxwell walks in next. Australia’s run rate less than five at the moment, though they still have a plenty of wickets in store and are chasing a modest total.

OUT! The lack of boundaries ultimately forces Marsh to go for a slog towards the midwicket region, but doesn’t quite get the timing off Maharaj’s bowling. Van der Dussen times his leap well and grabs it safely. AUS 38/3

Marsh c van der Dussen b Maharaj 11(17)

After 7 overs,Australia 33/2 ( Mitchell Marsh 8 , Steven Smith 9)

Spin from both ends now as Keshav Maharaj is brought in from the other end. The Proteas continue to keep things tight on the field, restricting the Marsh-Smith pair to the ones and twos. The Aussies will start to feel the heat soon enough with the boundaries drying up.

After 6 overs,Australia 28/2 ( Mitchell Marsh 7 , Steven Smith 5)

Keshav Maharaj introduced in the final over of the powerplay in the first bowling change for the Proteas. Starts off on a tidy note with three singles and a brace from it as Australia end the powerplay on 28/2. Still anybody’s game from here, though the Aussies need one solid partnership, something that they did not allow in the SA innings. Australia need 91 off 84.

After 5 overs,Australia 23/2 ( Mitchell Marsh 4 , Steven Smith 3)

Warner starts off Rabada’s third over with a lovely square cut, but doesn’t last long thereafter as Klaasen completes a fine catch at point to result in Australia losing their second wicket. Out walks Steve Smith, who gets off the mark with a treble off the last ball as Pretorious pulls off a fine save at deep backward square leg.

OUT! Rabada gets rid of Warner! KG does have an eye for the southpaw Aussie opener, who ends up driving towards point where Klaasen completes a fine grab. South Africa have a reason to believe with two wickets in the powerplay! AUS 20/2

Warner c Klaasen b Rabada 14 (15)

After 4 overs,Australia 16/1 ( David Warner 10 , Mitchell Marsh 4)

Now Mitchell Marsh helps himself to a boundary at the start of Nortje’s second over, flicking a full delivery aimed at his pads through square leg. Nortje however, does well to keep it tidy for the remainder of the over with five dots. Australia scoring at four-an-over so far in the PP, having lost a wicket along the way.

After 3 overs,Australia 12/1 ( David Warner 10 , Mitchell Marsh 0)

Warner releases the pressure with a lovely square pull off a short ball from Rabada at the start of the third over, collecting the first boundary. Follows it up with another four three balls later, this time with a well-timed drive on the up that beats extra cover. Gets hit in the abdomen in the fifth. Full toss to end the over, one that looked a tad high but is not signalled a no ball.

After 2 overs,Australia 4/1 ( David Warner 2 , Mitchell Marsh 0)

Anrich Nortje steams in from the other end. Starts off with three dots before firing a wide down the leg side to Warner. The southpaw clips the ball through the leg side for a single off the fourth. Nortje then gives the Proteas a reason to believe in themselves by getting rid of the Aussie captain in the penultimate delivery. Marsh walks in with the Aussies in a spot of bother early in their chase.

OUT! South Africa get the early strike they were looking for, as Aaron Finch slashes a wide delivery from Nortje towards third man, where Rabada ends up completing a fine catch. AUS 4/1

Finch c Rabada b Nortje 0(5)

After 1 over,Australia 2/0 ( David Warner 1 , Aaron Finch (C) 0)

Solid first over from Rabada, with only two coming from it as David Warner gets off the mark in the second delivery followed by a wide three balls later. Aaron Finch tries charging down the track in the third delivery, with Rabada instantly shortening his length and almost creating a chance in the form of a return catch.

Australia restrict South Africa to 118/9

Mitchell Starc to bowl the final over. He begins by conceding a double, before Kagiso Rabada hits a massive six! Absolutely hammered over long-on, that was hit miles into the air! A leg bye and then a wicket! Nortje departs after being caught by Finch. A single and then it’s a run out on the last ball as Shamsi and Rabada attempted to run two! Oh no, Shamsi just about managed to make it back.

After 18 overs,South Africa 101/8 ( Kagiso Rabada 6 , Anrich Nortje 2)

Mitchell Starc’s third over now. OUT! It’s the big one, it’s Aiden Markram who departs after holing out to Maxwell at deep mid-wicket! Mitchell Starc has his wicket! Three dots, a single and then a double, the hundred run mark comes up for SA.

After 15 overs,South Africa 83/7 ( Aiden Markram 31 , Kagiso Rabada 0)

Pat Cummins’ third over. Begins with a single and a dot. Oh it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped for South Africa. There’s a huge mixup, which sees Maharaj stranded in the middle of the pitch, and a diving Wade whips the bails off!

After 14 overs,South Africa 82/6 ( Aiden Markram 30 , Keshav Maharaj 0)

OUT! David Miller’s gone for 16! It’s LBW, looks good, but Miller reviews. Replays confirm it would have hit the off-stump. Adam Zampa strikes twice in the same over! Dwaine Pretorius tried a cut, but ends up getting an edge on it which carries through into the hands of Wade.

After 13 overs,South Africa 77/4 ( Aiden Markram 28 , David Miller 14)

Hazlewood’s third over, and Miller begins by defending the ball and running a single. Wade gets to it, and then whips off his glove and throws with pin-point accuracy to hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Miller was just in though, but great work from the Aussie keeper. Single and then yet another near run out. The South African duo are really living on the edge right now. One more single, and then a rapid double. Dot to end the over, six from it.

After 12 overs,South Africa 71/4 ( Aiden Markram 26 , David Miller 10)

Maxwell’s final over begins with two singles. Oh, beauty from Maxwell, it zipped into Markram’s pads. Not LBW, but still, a dangerous delivery. Another single and then almost a run out! Miller and Markram tried to run a very, very quick single, and Maxwell unleashed his throw on time but not on target. FOUR to end Maxwell’s spell! Cut through deep backward point by Markram. Maxwell ends with figures of 4-0-24-1

After 11 overs,South Africa 63/4 ( Aiden Markram 20 , David Miller 8)

Adam Zampa’s second over, and it’s almost LBW off the very first ball. Just a bit wide though, the umpire wasn’t convinced and neither were Australia’s players. A well run double off the second delivery and then almost caught and bowled! Oh never mind, it came up off the ground, wouldn’t have counted anyway. Two singles, and then a wonderfully bowled dot, Zampa’s a really slippery customer. Another dot to end the over, Australia continue to pile on the pressure.

After 10 overs,South Africa 59/4 ( Aiden Markram 19 , David Miller 5)

Glenn Maxwell’s third over coming up. He’s been excellent so far. Starts off with a dot, and then Miller and Markram run a quick double. Single, dot and single follow. Not a bad over at all from Maxwell so far, South Africa really are struggling at the moment. Single to end, only five off it.

After 9 overs,South Africa 54/4 ( Aiden Markram 18 , David Miller 1)

Mitchell Starc’s second over now. Starts off with a dot, and then a Markram leans into the drive and finds a gap in the covers for FOUR! It brings up the fifty-run mark for South Africa. Two singles follow, and then a dot

After 8 overs,South Africa 46/4 ( Aiden Markram 11 , David Miller 0)

Cummins to bowl his second over. First is a single, and then Klaasen drives so so well past mid-off. That was firmly struck and it’s FOUR! OUT! Pat Cummins has his wicket, and Heinrich Klaasen departs after a leading edge carries to Smith at point.

After 7 overs,South Africa 39/3 ( Aiden Markram 9 , Heinrich Klaasen 8)

Zampa to bowl his first over. Two singles to start, and then Mitchel Marsh pulls off a spectacular piece of fielding just in front of the boundary rope to save one run. A single and then Klaasen picks his spot to perfection, sending the ball racing away to the boundary at deep square leg for FOUR!

After 6 overs,South Africa 29/3 ( Aiden Markram 7 , Heinrich Klaasen 1)

Pat Cummins in for his second over. First ball’s a dot, second ball there’s a huge call for LBW! The umpire isn’t having it, and Australia let the review timer run down. Another dot. Markram then stands tall and dispatches an overpitched delivery through the covers for FOUR. Quick single on the next ball, that could have been run out if the fielder had managed to find the wickets with his throw. Single to end the over.

After 5 overs,South Africa 23/3 ( Aiden Markram 2 , Heinrich Klaasen 0)

This is a calamitous start for South Africa! Quinton de Kock is sent packing after he tries a cute scoop over the keeper, but ends up just sending the ball up and back down onto his own stumps. Hazlewood has his second wicket! Two dots follow. Five dots to end the over, it’s a wicket maiden.

After 4 overs,South Africa 23/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 7 , Aiden Markram 2)

Maxwell to bowl his second over, can he get another wicket? Starts with a dot, single and then another dot, before Quinton de Kock moves onto his back foot and pulls it over wide mid-on for FOUR! Another dot and a single to end the over.

After 3 overs,South Africa 17/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 2 , Aiden Markram 1)

OUT! Another wicket in quick succession, this time it’s Rassie van der Dussen who departs! It’s a big edge, and it’s caught behind by Wade, Hazlewood gets the wicket on his very first delivery of the match! Good over this, only one run conceded and a wicket!