Proteas crash out in nightmare match against a superior Australia

It was a match every South African cricket fan has nightmares about – losing horribly to a far superior Australian team.

So it was when the visitors beat the Proteas in the first T20 of the series at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium on 21 February, by a whopping 107 runs.

Australia’s Ashton Agar took no prisoners with his five-wicket-haul for just 24 runs in his four overs. This while Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins took two wickets apiece to ensure the win.

Proteas captain, Quinton de Kock opted to bowl first under windy, overcast conditions in front of a capacity crowd.

This was the first time Australia’s Steve Smith and David Warner have played in South Africa since they were banned from international cricket for a year for ball-tampering during a Test against South Africa in March 2018.

South African fans were very polite when these two walked to the middle, at least by the standards of the usually loud ‘Bullring’ spectators.

Still, fans were over the moon when Dale Steyn had Warner out caught for four after the second delivery of the match.

However, too much short-pitched bowling by the Proteas seamers and aggressive batting by Australia captain Aaron Finch (42) and Smith (45) allowed the run rate to accelerate through the powerplay and the pair took the total to 84 runs before Tabraiz Shamzi had them both out.

But the damage had been done and the remaining Australian batsmen scored easily despite the regular loss of wickets.

They reached a score of 196/6.

In South Africa’s innings, Australia also had cause to celebrate in the first over after De Kock was out bowled by Mitchell Starc for two runs. The difference, though was that South Africa did not build a solid partnership afterwards as Rassie van der Dussen (6), JJ Smuts (7) and David Miller (2) all fell cheaply.

Even former captain, Faf du Plessis’ 24 runs off 22 balls failed to help matters as the innings imploded.

Debutant, Pite van Biljon (16) was left trying to hold the innings together then as Andile Phehlukwayo and Dale Steyn both fell for ducks, and he was stuck with the tail, but it was not to be, as South Africa was all out for 89.

In-form Temba Bavuma missed the match for the Proteas after suffering a hamstring strain while fielding in the T20 against England on 16 February.

The Proteas lost that recent T20 series against England 2–1.

The next T20 against Australia will be played at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, on 23 February and the final game in the series will be at PPC Newlands, Cape Town, on 26 February.

Three one-day internationals will follow.

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