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David and Hazlewood Star as Australia Clinch Record Ninth Straight T20I Win Over South Africa
Australia kicked off their home summer in style with a 17-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I at Darwin, marking their record ninth consecutive T20I win.
Tim David’s explosive 83 off 52 balls and Josh Hazlewood’s clinical 3-wicket haul proved decisive, as the hosts overcame a top-order collapse to post a competitive total before sealing the game in the death overs.
Australia Overcome Early Setbacks to Post 178
Chaotic PowerPlay and Tim David’s Rescue Act
The Australian innings began with fireworks as Mitchell Marsh launched a six over extra cover off Lungi Ngidi, but wickets tumbled in quick succession. Travis Head (2) and Josh Inglis (0) fell early to Kagiso Rabada and George Linde, while Marsh himself departed soon after.
Cameron Green and Tim David counter-attacked during the PowerPlay, smashing boundaries at will. Green’s 13-ball 35 included two fours and a six in a single over off Linde. However, Green’s dismissal at 71/4 in the sixth over brought young South African pacer Kwena Maphaka into the spotlight.
Maphaka Shines, But David Dominates
The 19-year-old Maphaka rattled Australia’s middle order with his pace and accuracy, dismissing Glenn Maxwell and later breaking the David–Ben Dwarshuis stand. Still, David was in no mood to slow down, clearing the boundary multiple times, including a monster six onto the roof at Darwin’s Marrara Oval.
David reached his seventh T20I fifty off 36 balls and punished South Africa for missed chances, particularly when Tristan Stubbs dropped him. Even a Rabada no-ball denied South Africa his wicket before Maphaka finally dismissed him for a blazing 83.
Australia finished on 178 all out, with Maphaka ending with an outstanding 4 for 20 — a career-best effort that will undoubtedly boost his reputation.
Hazlewood’s Double Blow Stifles South Africa’s Chase
Early Pressure in the PowerPlay
South Africa began aggressively, with Aiden Markram finding early boundaries before perishing to Hazlewood. Lhuan Dre-Pretorius and Dewald Brewis also departed inside the first six overs, leaving the visitors at 48/3.
Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs rebuilt the innings, adding crucial runs against Australia’s spinners. At the halfway mark, South Africa required 101 runs off the last 10 overs — a steep but achievable task.
Match-Turning Overs in the Death
With the equation at 60 off 36 balls, skipper Marsh turned to Hazlewood, who delivered a decisive over, removing Stubbs and George Linde. Adam Zampa then piled on the pressure, dismissing Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy in quick succession.
Rickelton fought valiantly, reaching his half-century and taking 16 runs off Nathan Ellis’s penultimate over to keep South Africa alive. But Dwarshuis’s final over sealed the win, with Maxwell’s boundary-line catch to remove Rickelton ending the visitors’ hopes.
Australia closed the match with a 17-run victory, maintaining their unbeaten streak in T20Is since February 2024.
Looking Ahead
Australia will be keen to extend their winning run in the next match, while South Africa must regroup quickly to keep the series alive.
For more updates on Australia’s recent cricket performances, check out our detailed T20I cricket match reports.
For match stats and series schedules, visit the official ICC website.
Brief Scores
Australia 178 in 20 overs (Tim David 83, Cameron Green 35; Kwena Maphaka 4-20)
South Africa 161/9 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 71; Josh Hazlewood 3-26, Adam Zampa 2-33)
Result: Australia won by 17 runs
