Woeful Proteas lose as Australia clinch series

Another inadequate performance from South Africa saw Australia clinch the three-match Twenty20 series 2-1 with a commanding 97-run victory at PPC Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The home side were never in the chase of 194 from the very first over when Quinton de Kock was bowled by Mitchell Starc (2.3-0-23-3) for just five.

The wickets continued to fall from there with the home side being bowled out for just 96 inside 16 overs after Australia had posted 193 for five after De Kock had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first.

Aaron Finch (55) and David Warner (57) had given the men from Down Under a fantastic platform with an opening stand of 120 from just 74 deliveries before a wonderful fightback from the Proteas bowlers kept Australia under the 200-run mark.

But with the procession of wickets that followed the Proteas captain, with only Rassie van der Dussen (24) and Heinrich Klaasen (22) making more than 20, the home side wilted like a rose in a microwave oven.

The man that started the damage was Starc, who added the wicket of Faf du Plessis (5) in his second over. Van der Dussen and Klaasen tried to get the chase back on track with a stand worth 34 for the third wicket but then Adam Zampa (3-0-10-2) claimed the wickets of Klaasen and Pite van Biljon (1).

Ashton Agar (4-0-16-3) then really put the chase beyond doubt when he had Van der Dussen brilliantly caught by Zampa behind the keeper as Van der Dussen tried to ramp a delivery. Neither David Miller (15) nor Dwaine Pretorius (11) could make an impact as Agar and Starc finished off the innings with the Proteas losing their last five wickets for just nine runs.

WARNER AND FINCH FLAY SA ATTACK

Earlier, Warner registered his 17th T20 half-century with five boundaries and two sixes while Finch cracked six fours and a six, both batsmen facing 37 deliveries, as the pair sent the South African attack all over the park.

South Africa’s fightback with the ball was started by Anrich Nortje (4-0-46-1) when he had Warner caught by Miller on the leg side.

Finch followed shortly, trapped in front by Tabraiz Shamsi (4-0-25-1) before Lungi Ngidi (4-0-33-1) and Pretorius (4-0-42-1) accounted for Matthew Wade (10) and Mitchell Marsh (19) respectively.

Kagiso Rabada (4-0-42-1) clean-bowled Steve Smith off a no-ball when he was on six with the former skipper going on to make an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls.

Australia lost the second T20 by 12 runs after winning the first match at The Bullring by 107 runs which included South Africa being bowled out for their lowest T20 total of 89.

The sides now move into the 50-over arena with the first ODI taking place in Paarl on Saturday followed by matches in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (capt & wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.

AUSTRALIA: Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.