Tim David crunched eight sixes in a blistering 83 from 52 balls to assist Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs of their opening Twenty20 conflict in Darwin on Sunday.
After being despatched in, the hosts have been all out for 178 on the ultimate supply of their 20 overs within the first recreation of worldwide cricket in Australia’s tropical north for 17 years.
Cameron Inexperienced (35 off 13) was the one different batsman to get going, with left-arm fast Kwena Maphaka bagging 4-20 as South Africa bowled out Australia for the primary time in a T20.
However David’s phenomenal innings proved sufficient, with the Proteas restricted to 161-9 in reply. That was regardless of a battling 71 from Ryan Rickelton, who fell to a spectacular Glenn Maxwell catch on the boundary.
Josh Hazlewood took 3-27 and Ben Dwarshuis 3-26.
“Nice option to begin the collection,” skipper Mitchell Marsh stated after Australia’s ninth T20 victory in a row.
“Definitely we would like guys like David to return out and bat the best way he did, he was the distinction.”
Backing up from a latest 5-0 collection sweep in opposition to the West Indies, Australia signalled its intent early with Marsh slamming a six off the primary ball.
However he misplaced opening companion Travis Head (two) and Josh Inglis (golden duck) within the house of three deliveries after which skied Kagiso Rabada on 13, with Maphaka taking a difficult catch earlier than Inexperienced and David let free.
They placed on a quickfire 40 for the fourth wicket earlier than Inexperienced was undone by a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi.
Australia was in hassle on 75-6 when Mitch Owen was out for 2 and dangerman Maxwell went for one.
However David dug in and, with Dwarshuis (17), added 59 for the seventh wicket.
David was dropped by Tristan Stubbs on 56, though Stubbs made amends by holding the catch that lastly eliminated the large Australian after a power-packed knock.
South Africa’s chase began badly with skipper Aiden Markram out to Hazlewood within the first over, they usually had misplaced three wickets for 48 by the sixth over.
Rickelton and Stubbs (37) knuckled down in a threatening 72-run stand however Hazlewood struck once more with two wickets in an over to shatter their momentum.
South Africa’s hopes have been all however over when Adam Zampa matched Hazlewood’s feat within the subsequent over.
“It bought shut, however we have been fairly removed from our greatest tonight,” Markram stated.
The second of the three-game collection is in Darwin on Tuesday.