David and Hazlewood ensure Australia win 9 straight T20is after getting the better of South Africa in the 1st T20i.
David, Hazlewood star as Australia make it record nine T20Is wins in a row.
Despite losing six wickets in the first eight overs, Australia managed to mount their lowest successful defence against South Africa, extending their winning run in Twenty20 Internationals to a record nine games. Tim David’s well built 52-ball 83 and seventh-wicket stand of 59 with Ben Dwarshuis helped Australia reach a match-winning total after they had crashed to 75 for 6 during an exciting start. As T20I captain, Mitchell Marsh has already won 22 of 25 games.
Even though South Africa was completely overwhelmed by Australia’s extremely aggressive batting style, they also bear some of the guilt for allowing their hosts to escape.
Despite bowling Australia out for the first time in 26 Twenty20 International matches, South Africa lost four catches, including David on 56. The most encouraging aspect of the match was the performance of left-armer Kwena Maphaka, who became the youngest bowler from a Full Member nation to capture four wickets in a Twenty20 International at the age of 19 and 124 days. Limiting Australia to a chaseable score was insufficient.
The absence of power hitting was the downfall of South Africa. They seemed to be a specialist batter short, hitting just two sixes as opposed to Australia’s 13 (of which David alone was responsible for eight). South Africa required 59 runs off 33 balls by the time George Linde reached the crease at No. 6.
Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs’ greatest partnership of 72 in the game was broken by Josh Hazlewood. In addition, he would finish with 3 for 26 to conclude Linde’s stay.
To virtually terminate their pursuit, South Africa lost four wickets for three runs in ten balls after Adam Zampa claimed two wickets in two balls. After batting till the final over, when South Africa required 21 runs to win, Rickelton was well caught on the boundary by Glenn Maxwell. In addition, Dwarshuis took three wickets as South Africa fell 17 runs short.