Australia came out South Africa with two wickets in an exciting finish in Cazaly’s stage, Cairns, to seal the T20i series 2-1. Glenn Maxwell was the hero and ended unbeaten at 62 of 36 balls to guide his team home with one more ball left.
Australia pursued 173 and needed 10 points from the last. Maxwell kept his cool and inverted lung Lungi Ngidi for four to seal the victory. Earlier Mitchell Marsh gave the Chase a strong start with 54 in a 66-run opening standard with Travis Head.
The Bowlers of South Africa continued to fight. Teen Pacer Kwena Maphaka rejected Marsh and Cameron Green in the same, while Kagiso Rabada hit twice to remove Tim David and Aaron Hardie. Corbin Bosch also made an impression and took 3 for 26, including two wickets in the 19th.
But Maxwell turned out to be the night too good. His aggressive stroke play and calmness under pressure Australia wore past the target.
First, Zuid -Afrika hit 172 for 7 after an early collapse on 49 for 3 within seven overs. Dewald Brevis was the striking with 53 from 26 balls and reached his fifty in just 22 deliveries before Nathan Ellis (3 for 31) struck him. Rassie van der Dussen did not matter 38 and Tristan Stubbs added 25 to push the total on a competitive score.
Despite those efforts, South Africa could not prevent Maxwell from sealing the series. The Focus is now shifting to the ODI series of three games, which starts on Tuesday in Cairns.
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