Australia defeated South Africa by 5 wickets in the first match of the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Chasing a target of 119, the Aaron Finch-led side won the game with two balls to spare. Steve Smith top-scored for Australia with a 34-ball 35 while Marcus Stoinis chipped in with a 16-ball 24. Earlier, South Africa had posted a total of 118/9 from their share of 20 overs. Aiden Markram had top-scored for the Proteas with a fine 40 off just 26 balls. Australian bowlers were on the money from the word go as they kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa picked up two wickets each but it was Josh Hazlewood's 4 overs for just 19 runs and the two wickets that put the brakes on South Africa and for that the tall paceman was adjudged 'Player of the Match'. Matthew Wade also remained unbeaten and played an important knock for his team. (SCORECARD)
FOUR! AUSTRALIA ARE HOME!
FOUR! AUSTRALIA ARE ALMOST THERE!
FOUR! STOIN THE MAN!
AUS NEED 18 OFF 12 BALLS
FOUR! THAT'S DELIGHTFUL!
DROPPED and FOUR! IS THAT THE MATCH?
AUS NEED 36 RUNS OFF 24 BALLS
OUT! MAXWELL'S GONE!
FOUR! THAT'S VINTAGE MAXI!
FOUR! EXQUSITE SHOT!
FOUR! THAT'S CHEEKY!
OUT! MITCH MARSH IS GONE!
OUT! WARNER IS GONE!
FOUR! CRACKING SHOT!
AUSTRALIA'S RUN-CHASE IS UNDERWAY!!!
GONE! NORTJE DEPARTS!
SIX! THAT'S MASSIVE!
5 RUNS FROM THAT 19TH OVER FROM CUMMINS!
OUT! MARKRAM IS GONE!
OUT! TERRIBLE MIX-UP!
OUT! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!
FOUR! MARKRAM CUTS THROUGH THE OFF SIDE! FINDS THE BOUNDARY!
DROPPED! ZAMPA DROPS MILLER! MASSIVE LET-OFF FOR THE PROTEAS!
1 RUN! MILLER PUSHES FOR A SINGLE AND GETS IT!
OUT! KLAASEN IS GONE! CUMMINS GETS HIS MAN!
A wicket maiden by Josh Hazlewood!
OUT! ANOTHER ONE FOR AUSTRALIA! SUCH A BIZARRE DISMISSAL!
No run, SA: 17/2 (3)
OUT!!! ANOTHER ONE GONEEEE!
OUT!!!!!!! TEMBA BAVUMA DEPARTS EARLY!
We have confidence in our team: Temba Bavuma
Ashton Agar, Kane Richardson, Josh Inglis and Mitchell Swepson miss out: Aaron Finch
Australia win toss, opt to field
Tabraiz Shamsi is back for South Africa!
Head-to-head in T20Is
South Africa look to maintain winning run!
Australia in poor form!
South Africa Cricket Team
Australia Cricket Team
Aaron Finch
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi