A brilliant bowling display towards the end of the Australian innings handed the Proteas an important 12-run victory in Port Elizabeth on Sunday as they levelled the three-match series 1-1, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
The Proteas batted first after Quinton de Kock won the toss at the start of play and despite a blistering start they could only post 158-4 in their 20 overs.
As has been the case so often this summer, De Kock starred with the bat and finished as the team’s highest scorer with 70 off 47 deliveries.
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Tight bowling by the Aussies restricted the Proteas to post a big total towards the end of their innings.
David Warner and Aaron Finch also made a solid start to the Australians’ run-chase but Lungi Ngidi removed the captain by knocking his stumps out the ground for 14.
Warner reached his half-century and together him and Steve Smith took the visitors’ score past the 100-run mark but Dwaine Pretorius struck a valuable blow by removing Smith for 29.
Ngidi then picked up his second wicket of the match by clean bowling Alex Carey for 14 as Australia required 32 from the final four overs.
Proteas post 158 at St George’s Park
Mitchell Marsh became the fast bowler’s third scalp after a brilliant combination of fielding skills by Faf du Plessis and David Miller saw him caught on the boundary for 6.
And, Kagiso Rabada then took the wicket of Matthew Wade for a duck in the following over with an easy caught and bowl as the pressure began to build on Australia.
They needed 17 runs off the final over with Warner still at the crease and the responsibility rested on Anrich Nortje to deliver the important six balls.
And the hometown hero delivered by knocking over Ashton Agar for 1 and keeping it tight against Warner as South Africa fought out a big victory.
Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix
Teams
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (c; wk), Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Pite van Biljon, David Miller, 7 Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi.
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.
