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Stunning-as-always Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 62 led Australia to a two-wicket win over South Africa in Cairns, sealing the T20 series 2-1.
Glenn Maxwell roaring after clinching another last-over win.
(AFP)
Glenn Maxwell took a stunning catch and then scored a crucial half-century to help Australia edge past a resilient South Africa by two wickets, securing the three-match Twenty20 series in Cairns on Saturday.
Chasing South Africa’s 172-7, Australia found themselves in trouble at 122-6 in the 14th over until Maxwell’s unbeaten 62 off 36 balls turned the game.
A late drama unfolded when South African pacer Corbin Bosch took two consecutive wickets, dismissing Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis.
However, Maxwell hit a boundary on the second-last ball of the match to seal the victory and celebrated enthusiastically.
Australia, who were favourites, had won the first match but faced a setback with a 52-run defeat in the second game before moving to Cairns, which hosted its first T20 international.
Maxwell admitted, “It was a little nerve-racking. I tried to stay on strike as much as I could and cash in on anything loose.”
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh decided to field first, taking advantage of conditions favourable for seam bowlers, unlike the batting-friendly pitches in the first two games in Darwin.
Veteran bowler Josh Hazlewood, after a disappointing performance in the second game, made a strong comeback by dismissing South African captain Aiden Markram for one in the first over.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored a quick 24 before falling to Ellis, making way for Dewald Brevis, who had scored a record-breaking 125 not out in the second game.
Brevis hit his sixth delivery onto the roof before Maxwell dropped a difficult one-handed chance at long-on.
However, Brevis reached his half-century off 22 balls.
Maxwell, known for his fielding prowess, redeemed himself in the 12th over with an excellent diving catch to dismiss Brevis for 53.
South Africa’s innings lost momentum and their total seemed insufficient when Marsh led a 66-run opening partnership with Travis Head.
South Africa then struck back, quickly dismissing Head (19) and Josh Inglis for a first-ball duck.
Marsh scored 54 before getting out to 19-year-old Kwena Maphaka, who later in the 11th over also dismissed Cameron Green (nine).
Australia’s collapse of 6-56 was completed when in-form Tim David (17) and Aaron Hardie (one) were dismissed, but Maxwell took control from there.
The Australian players wore black armbands to honour former captain and coach Bob Simpson, who passed away at the age of 89.
The three-match One-Day International series between the teams starts in Cairns on Tuesday.
(With agency inputs)
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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