Proteas cap successful tour of Australia with win in one-off T20

Sport360 staff 19:27 17/11/2018
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  • Lungi Ngidi dismissed Aaron Finch.

    South Africa defeated Australia by 21 runs in a rain-affected Twenty20 international in Carrara.

    The weather almost prevented any play but, after a delay of more than two hours, a game of 10 overs a side was possible.

    South Africa made a flying start with the bat and, although their total of 108-6 seemed inadequate, it proved more than enough as Australia were restricted to 87-7 in their innings.

    The match was a one-off and followed South Africa’s victory in the one-day series as they completed a successful trip.

    Quinton de Kock struck a six off only the third ball of the match and that set the tone, with South Africa hitting 15 runs off the first over and reaching 42 for no wicket in the third over.

    They lost their first wicket in the same over, Reeza Hendricks falling to Nathan Coulter-Nile for 19 off only eight balls.

    Captain Faf du Plessis continued the onslaught, smashing 27 off 15 balls, while De Kock was the second man out for 22.

    A flurry of wickets and some good Australian bowling slowed the rate down in the final overs to give the hosts a decent chance of chasing down the total, but that never looked likely.

    Lungi Ngidi and Chris Morris dismissed the top four and, although Glenn Maxwell hit the top score of the match with 38, he could not inspire a recovery.

    “The bowlers once again stepped up and produced the goods. Picking up wickets in this format is always important because T20 is all about slogging,” skipper Faf du Plessis said.

    “It ends a really good tour for us. We learnt a few lessons about the things that worked and didn’t work. Australia is a very tough place to tour and play cricket in, so to get a series win in both white-ball formats is a big achievement and we’ll go home with our heads held high.”

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