In the first T20I between South Africa and Australia on August 30 (Wednesday), the Baggy Greens outmuscled the Proteas at Kingsmead, Durban and registered a resounding victory. Led by captain Mitchell Marsh and explosive batter Tim David's brutal strokes, the visitors began the tour in an emphatic manner as the hosts were blown to smithereens. As a result, Australia registered a mammoth 111-run win and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Aiden Markram's decision to bowl first backfired instantaneously as Travis Head smacked a six on just the second ball of the match. While Head departed soon after, Marsh and Matthew Short bludgeoned the Proteas bowling attack with brut power and disdain. In just a blink of an eye, Australia raced to 69/1 in 4.4 overs. Just when it was shaping up to be a record-shattering evening in Durban, Short Lizaad Williams dismissed Short for 20 runs off 11 balls.
Australia suffered a mini-collapse after Short's dismissal, but two tall muscular batters dug their team out of a hole and powered them to a massive score. Marsh and David combined for a 97-run stand for the fifth wicket as the duo sent the ball racing to the fence or over it with ease.
David scored 64 runs off 28 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes while Marsh missed out on a century as the over ran out. The Aussie skipper remained unbeaten on 92 runs off 49 balls, powering 13 fours and two sixes in his attractive innings. Aaron Hardie's brief cameo of 23 runs off 14 balls took Australia's score to 226/6 in 20 overs.
For South Africa, Williams was the pick of all bowling as he bagged three wickets and conceded 44 runs in four overs. Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi chipped in with a wicket each.
South Africa's run chase never took off as their batting line-up capitulated under the pressure of a gigantic target. Apart from opener Reeza Hendricks, who scored 56 runs off 43 balls, none of the Proteas batters could make any impact. As a result, the hosts were bundled out for 115 runs in just 15.3 overs.
The star of the show for Australia was Tanveer Sangha. On debut, the right-arm leg-spinner gave a splendid account of his potential and bagged four wickets in his spell of four overs. Marcus Stoinis, who failed with the bat, came good with the ball and took three wickets while Spencer Johnson chipped in with two wickets. Sean Abbott also bagged one wicket.
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