T20 World Cup 2021: Australia Beat South Africa By 5 Wickets

Australia vs South Africa, 13th Match, Super 12 Group 1

Australia Beat South Africa By 5 Wickets

Scorecard

• South Africa - 118/9 (20)
• Australia - 121/5 (19.4)

Australia beat South Africa by 5 wicketshttps://t.co/CzGHEfE8i6#AUSvSA #T20WorldCup2021 pic.twitter.com/EwB7YuMmyQ

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) October 23, 2021

To Win - Australia Need 8 Runs In 6 Balls

AUS - 101/5 (18)

AUS - 94/5 (17)

AUS - 68/3 (13)

AUS - 60/3 (12)

AUS - 51/3 (10)

Mitchell Marsh c van der Dussen b Maharaj 11(17)

AUS - 39/3 (8)

AUS - 33/2 (7)

AUS - 28/2 (6)

Warner c Klaasen b Rabada 14(15) 

AUS - 16/1 (4)

AUS - 12/1 (3)

Finch c Rabada b Nortje 0(5)

AUS - 4/1 (2)

South Africa Post 118/9 In 20 Overs

#SAvAUS - SA Post 118/9
Full Scorecard @ https://t.co/8rzs4rbmRF#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/M1OiB37pbW

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) October 23, 2021

South Africa - 101/8 After 18 Overs

Markram c Maxwell b Starc 40(36)

South Africa - 98/8 After 17.1 Overs

South Africa - 83/7 After 15 Overs

Magical Over By Adam Zampa

SA - 82/6 (14)

David Miller lbw b Zampa 16(18)

SA - 80/5 After 13.3 Overs

South Africa - 71/4 After 12 Overs

South Africa - 63/4 After 11 Overs

SA - 59/4 (10)

SA - 54/4 (9)

Klaasen c Smith b Cummins 13(13)

SA - 46/4 (8)

SA - 39/3 (7 Overs)

South Africa In trouble

SA - 29/3 After 6 Overs

de Kock b Hazlewood 7(12)

SA - 23/3 (5)

SA - 16/1 (2)

SA - 11/0 (1)

Toss - Australia Opt To Bowl

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Australia and South Africa will face off in the opening match of the Super 12 of ICC T20 World Cup 2021 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. 

Australian batting top order is yet to find its form and fire. David Warner, who is probably going through the worst form in his career, managed a golden duck and 1 run off 7 balls in the warm-up games Australia played against New Zealand & India respectively. Steve Smith has scored runs in both matches but his strike rate is a bit of a concern. It won't be wrong to say that judging by current form, Glenn Maxwell is the best batter in the Aussie lineup. 

Australian bowling relied on Kane Richardson in the match against New Zealand. Kane picked up 3 wickets, while spinner Adam Zampa picked up 2 wickets as well. Ashton Agar picked up a wicket as well. This would have been a positive sign for the Australians as spinners are known to play a crucial part in the matches being played in UAE. However, in the match against India, the Aussie bowlers were smashed around the park. Ashton Agar was the sole wicket taker in the warm-up match against India.

South African batting performance in the warm-up games was scattered between the individuals. Even though South Africa has won both the warm-up matches, batting consistency seems to be an issue. Although, Rassie van der Dussen scored a fabulous 101* off 51 balls against Afghanistan. Captain Temba Bavuma scored runs in both the matches but again his strike rate is a concern - 31 off 39 against Afghanistan & 46 off 42 against Pakistan. Aiden Markram can be a key player who played a knock 48 off 35 against Afghanistan and missed out on batting against Pakistan. 

South African bowlers on the other hand look ready for tough match-ups. With world-class bowlers like - Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje & Tabraiz Shamsi, South African bowling may just come out to be one of the toughest in the competition. Bjorn Fortuin, Dwaine Pretorious & Keshav Maharaj are also capable of providing crucial breakthroughs.