Australia beats South Africa in T20 World Cup Opener

South Africa continued to turn the screws and kept a leash on the scoring rate, which eventually forced Australia to make a mistake. Mitchell Marsh tried to smash Keshav Maharaj for a six, only to find Rassie van der Dussen at deep mid-wicket. Halfway through the chase, Australia needed 68 off 60 with Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell at the crease.

Put in to bat first by Aaron Finch, South Africa started brightly. Temba Bavuma took the attack to Mitchell Starc, striking two well-timed drives to the boundary in the very first over, but their innings unravelled rather early and quickly.

With little movement on offer for the quicks, Finch brought on Glenn Maxwell at the other end. The move paid immediate dividends as Bavuma missed a quicker one that spun just enough to hit the timber.

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In the very next over, Hazlewood managed to extract some movement to get rid of the in-form Van der Dussen, who nicked the ball to Matthew Wade. It went from bad to worse as South Africa lost their talisman De Kock as he perished attempting the scoop, only to inside edge onto his thigh pad and then hit the stumps.

Aiden Markram held up his end quite well but kept losing partners at crucial junctures just when South Africa were looking to get a move on. First, he and David Miller managed to rebuild after the wicket of Klaasen with a 23-run partnership. However, Pat Cummins came back into the attack and struck immediately, catching the leading edge of Klaasen’s bat as Steve Smith completed a good catch diving forward.

He then strung a 24-run partnership with the experienced David Miller before Adam Zampa broke through just after the drinks break. Miller, expecting the ball to turn, played all around the sweep and was trapped plumb in front.

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