Aussies win seven-over shoot out

Cricket365
March 13, 2014

Australia won the second T20 against South Africa in Durban by five wickets and with two balls to spare, chasing down the 81 required in the rain-reduced seven-overs-per-side encounter at soggy Kingsmead.

The game started two and a half hours late and was chopped into a third as rain fell for most of the day, only stopping after the scheduled start. The Aussies then won the toss and chose to bowl, saying they had no idea what a good score would be.

After losing Hashim Amla early on, and only having 11 runs on the board after three of the seven overs, the Proteas went on to make 80 for one. Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis put on 74 runs together.

De Kock was back to his big-hitting best, making 41 off 20 balls, including four huge sixes, while Du Plessis made 27 off 13 balls. Dan Christian was at the receiving end of their ire, going for 18 in his one over.

The Aussies got off to a cracking start in their chase, with David Warner continuing to torment the hosts. Aaron Finch fell for five though, and Warner continued to smash the ball as Shane Watson and George Bailey departed cheaply too.

On the bowling front, it was a good night for JP Duminy, who took two wickets in one over, including Warner, but debutant Beuran Hendricks found the going a bit tougher. His first over went for 18, but he recovered well in the second, though went wicketless.

In the end, after Glenn Maxwell went for one, and Warner departed with a vital 40 off 16 balls, it was the two Brads of Haddin and Hodge who ended the game in the visitors favour.

They needed 15 off the last over, and Hodge smashed Wayne Parnelll for those runs. He was on 21 not out off eight balls at the end.

South Africa: K Abbott, H Amla, F Behardien, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, B Hendricks, D Miller, J Morkel, W Parnell, L Tsotsobe

Australia: G Bailey, D Christian, N Coulter-Nile, A Finch, B Haddin, B Hodge, G Hogg, G Maxwell, M Starc, D Warner, S Watson