AUS vs SA: Kagiso Rabada celebrates a wicket on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.© Twitter
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 )
October 23 2021 19:01 (IST)
FOUR! AUSTRALIA ARE HOME!
Stoinis finds the midwicket boundary and Australia are home with two balls and five wickets to spare.
October 23 2021 19:00 (IST)
FOUR! AUSTRALIA ARE ALMOST THERE!
Stoinis hammers one down the ground, beating the fielders at long-off and long-on.
October 23 2021 18:57 (IST)
FOUR! STOIN THE MAN!
Nortje pitches it short and Stoinis pulls it over midwicket for a boundary. Just 8 needed off that final over now.
October 23 2021 18:51 (IST)
AUS NEED 18 OFF 12 BALLS
Just 7 runs off that 18th over from Dwayne Pretorius. The match is evenly poised.
October 23 2021 18:44 (IST)
FOUR! THAT'S DELIGHTFUL!
That's two boundaries in the same over from Wade. Much needed runs for Australia. They now need just 25 runs off the last 18 balls.
AUS: 94/5 (17)
October 23 2021 18:43 (IST)
DROPPED and FOUR! IS THAT THE MATCH?
Massive let-off for Australia as Matthew Wade survives. Markram mistimes his dive at short mid-off and the ball races toward the boundary.
October 23 2021 18:38 (IST)
AUS NEED 36 RUNS OFF 24 BALLS
That's a very tidy over from Shamsi. Australia are shell-shocked with Stoinis and Wade in the middle.
October 23 2021 18:35 (IST)
OUT! MAXWELL'S GONE!
That's a big big wicket for the Proteas. Australia are 5 down now. Shamsi gets his man.
Glenn Maxwell b Tabraiz Shamsi
AUS: 81/5
October 23 2021 18:32 (IST)
OUT! WHAT A CATCH!
Aiden Markram you beauty. That's some catch. Australia now 4 down. Smith is gone.
Steve Smith c Aiden Markram b Anrich Nortje 35 (34)
AUS: 80/4
October 23 2021 18:30 (IST)
FOUR! POOR BOWLING!
Short off a length from Nortje, and Smith pulls it to find the boundary.
AUS: 80/3 (14.4)
October 23 2021 18:25 (IST)
FOUR! THAT'S VINTAGE MAXI!
Maxwell makes room and targets Shamsi with his trademark reverse-sweep.
AUS: 72/3
October 23 2021 18:23 (IST)
FOUR! EXQUSITE SHOT!
Smith gets on the backfoot and finds the boundary towards extra cover.
October 23 2021 18:15 (IST)
END OF OVER 10!
Australia are 51/3 halfway through their run-chase. They need 68 runs to win from 60 balls.
October 23 2021 18:04 (IST)
FOUR! THAT'S CHEEKY!
Smith cuts it late and finds the boundary.
AUS: 46/3
October 23 2021 17:59 (IST)
OUT! MITCH MARSH IS GONE!
Australia are suddenly chasing the game. Three down now. Keshav Maharaj gets his man.
Mitchell Marsh c Rassie van der Dussen b Keshav Maharaj 11 (17)
AUS: 38/3
October 23 2021 17:46 (IST)
OUT! WARNER IS GONE!
Rabada gets his revenge. David Warner's poor form continues. Australia in a spot of both now.
David Warner c Heinrich Klaasen b Kagiso Rabada 14 (15)
October 23 2021 17:38 (IST)
FOUR! ANOTHER ONE!
That's vintage David Warner. Punishes Rabada with a trademark cover drive.
AUS: 12/0 (2.4)
October 23 2021 17:36 (IST)
FOUR! CRACKING SHOT!
David Warner pulls one and finds the square leg boundary.
AUS: 8/1
October 23 2021 17:34 (IST)
OUT! FINCH DEPARTS
Anrich Nortje strikes early as Kagiso Rabada takes a simple catch at third man.
Aaron Finch c Kagiso Rabada b Anrich Nortje 0(5)
Mitch Marsh joins David Warner.
October 23 2021 17:26 (IST)
AUSTRALIA'S RUN-CHASE IS UNDERWAY!!!
David Warner accompanies skipper Aaron Finch in the middle.
October 23 2021 17:10 (IST)
GONE! NORTJE DEPARTS!
STARC GETS HIS SECOND WICKET.
ANRICE NORTJE 2 (3)
SA: 115/9 (19.4)
October 23 2021 17:09 (IST)
SIX! THAT'S MASSIVE!
STARC MISSES HIS LENGTH AND RABADA MAKES THE MOST OF IT. MUCH NEEDED RUNS FOR THE PROTEAS.
SA: 114/8 (19.2)
October 23 2021 17:06 (IST)
5 RUNS FROM THAT 19TH OVER FROM CUMMINS!
Mitchell Starc will bowl the last over. SA: 106/8 (19)
October 23 2021 16:58 (IST)
OUT! MARKRAM IS GONE!
Markram tries to take the aerial route, only to find Mawell on the boundary. Big wicket for Mitchell Starc.
Aiden Markram c Glen Maxwell b Mitchell Starc 40 (36)
October 23 2021 16:43 (IST)
OUT! TERRIBLE MIX-UP!
Terrible mix-up between Markram and Keshav Maharaj. Maxwell makes the most of it. Wade gathers his throw and lodges the bail.
Keshav Maharaj run out Glenn Maxwell/Wade
SA: 83/7 (14.3)
October 23 2021 16:38 (IST)
OUT! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!
Zampa gets Miller. Lbw looks plum and its given. The batsmen reviews it but gets his marching orders eventually.
David Miller b Adam Zampa 16(18)
October 23 2021 16:28 (IST)
FOUR! MARKRAM CUTS THROUGH THE OFF SIDE! FINDS THE BOUNDARY!
Markram gets some room and he makes the most of it. Much needed boundary for the proteas.
SA: 71/4 (11)
October 23 2021 16:26 (IST)
DROPPED! ZAMPA DROPS MILLER! MASSIVE LET-OFF FOR THE PROTEAS!
South Africa dodge a massive bullet. Zampa give Miller a lifeline.
SA: 62/4
October 23 2021 16:20 (IST)
1 RUN! MILLER PUSHES FOR A SINGLE AND GETS IT!
South Africa are in deep-deep trouble, halfway through their innings.
SA: 59/4 (10 ov)
October 23 2021 16:13 (IST)
OUT! KLAASEN IS GONE! CUMMINS GETS HIS MAN!
Steve Smith takes a smart catch at backward point. Klaasen tries to aim at the leg side, but takes a leading edge.
Heinrich Klaasen c Steve Smith b Pat Cummins 13(13)
October 23 2021 16:05 (IST)
FOUR!
Back of a length delivery by Cummins, outside off. Markram drives it wide of mid-off.
October 23 2021 15:57 (IST)
A wicket maiden by Josh Hazlewood!
A shorter delivery by Hazlewood and Klaasen defends it to the leg side. No run and a wicket maiden by Hazlewood.
South Africa are 23 for three in five overs.
October 23 2021 15:53 (IST)
OUT! ANOTHER ONE FOR AUSTRALIA! SUCH A BIZARRE DISMISSAL!
A back-of-a-length delivery by Hazlewood and its directed towards the thigh pad. it bounces into the crease and hits the stumps. The backspin defeated De Kock.
Quinton de Kock b Josh Hazlewood 7(12)
In comes, Heinrich Klassen.
October 23 2021 15:49 (IST)
FOUR!
A short delivery by Maxwell and De Kock pulls it over wide mid-on for a boundary!
October 23 2021 15:47 (IST)
No run, SA: 17/2 (3)
A full delivery by Hazlewood, outside off. De Kock slices it to point. No run.
South Africa are 17 for two after three overs.
October 23 2021 15:43 (IST)
OUT!!! ANOTHER ONE GONEEEE!
An excellent delivery by Hazlewood, outside off. Van der Dussen tries to go off the back foot but edges it to Wade behind.
Rassie van der Dussen c Matthew Wade b Josh Hazlewood 2 (3)
In walks, Aiden Markram.
October 23 2021 15:39 (IST)
OUT!!!!!!! TEMBA BAVUMA DEPARTS EARLY!
A quicker delivery by Maxwell but its straight. Bavuma misjudges it and loses his wicket.
Temba Bavuma b Glenn Maxwell 12 (7)
In comes, Rassie van der Dussen.
October 23 2021 15:37 (IST)
One run
Maxwell tosses it full and straight. Bavuma directs it to deep midwicket for a single.
October 23 2021 15:33 (IST)
FOUR!
A full delivery by Starc, wide outside off. Bavuma drives it square through point for another four!
Topics mentioned in this article
South Africa Cricket Team
Australia Cricket Team
Aaron Finch
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi