Australia’s batting firepower came to the fore on Sunday with the destructive duo of Glenn Maxwell and David Warner adding 161 runs for the fourth wicket to lead Australia to a famous run-chase against South Africa at Johannesburg.
The duo who came together at 32/3 had their back against the wall after the hosts had scored 204 in their 20 overs but the Australian duo ensured that the series will now be taken to the decider.
South African skipper Faf du Plessis led from the front for the hosts with a blistering half-century but was outdone by the Australian duo who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Proteas headed into the contest on the back of a 3-wicket victory in the first T20I inspired by David Miller. Hashim Amla missed out yet again for the hosts who brought in Dale Steyn and Farhaan Berhardien into the playing eleven while Australia welcomed back a fit-again Shane Watson along with the trio of James Faulkner, Josh Hazelwood and Ashton Agar.
After losing the opening match of the series after batting first, Australian skipper Steven Smith won the toss and opted to bowl first this time around. De Villiers looked to set the game going right from the word go smashing a six and a boundary but fell soon after for 13 having survived a strong appeal for caught behind just two balls earlier.
The visitors couldn’t capitalise on the early breakthrough though as the in-form Quinton de Kock and skipper Faf du Plessis forged a 62-run partnership for the second wicket in just six overs. De Kock looked in devastating touch but had a dismissal to forget as he was bowled off the bats off a full toss from James Faulkner.
Du Plessis took charge of the innings from then on with nice support from the Man-of-the-Match from the opening match David Miller to take South Africa to a commanding total. The skipper scored 20 runs off the final over before being dismissed but David Wiese added the misery for Australia’s premier paceman Josh Hazelwood with a six off the final ball.
Faulkner bowled brilliantly for Australia as he kept a check on the flow of runs conceding only 28 runs in his four overs while also picking up three wickets.
Despite chasing a total in excess of 200, David Warner found himself yet again out of the opening slot with Aaron Finch and Watson sharing the duties instead. Both failed spectacularly, returning to the pavilion with single-digit scores while Smith, who came in at No 3 ahead of Warner also perished soon.
A score of 32/3 might have seemed troubling, but when it's David Warner and Glenn Maxwell at the crease, one can expect fireworks to follow. That’s exactly what happened with the duo at their devastating best and started to get the show going for the visitors. David Wiese felt the heat the most as he conceded 58 runs in his four overs while the wily Imran Tahir was also helpless against the pair.
There was no stopping either of them as the duo raced against each other with shots all round the park. Warner scored five maximums while Maxwell hit three on their way to 77 and 75 respectively. Though the duo fell on the brink of victory, Faulkner and Marsh finished the job for the visitors to complete a famous and unlikely victory off the final ball of the match.
Brief Scores: South Africa 204/7 off 20 overs – Du Plessis 79(41), De Kock 44(28); Faulkner 3/28 lost to Australia 205/5 off 20 overs (Warner 77(40), Maxwell 75(43); Rabada 2/25
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