Glenn Maxwell’s rare skill and poise guided Australia to a nail-biting two wicket victory off the penultimate delivery of the deciding T20 International to clinch a 2-1 series victory against South Africa at the Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns on Saturday.
Dewald Brevis added a scintillating 53 from 26 balls to his match-winning 125* in the second match to help guide South Africa to a total of 172-7 after being asked to bat first but Australia seemed on course for an emphatic victory before slipping from 83-2 to 122-6.
But 36-year-old Maxwell shrugged off the loss of partners, refused singles in the closing overs in the company of the bowlers and backed himself to score 10 runs from the final over against Lungi Ngidi.
Two dot balls added to the pressure leaving him with four runs required off the last two balls which prompted, inevitably, some showmanship from the ‘Big Show’ who reverse ramped a low full toss to the unguarded third boundary to win the match and the series with a ball to spare finishing on 62 from just 36 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
Kwena Maphaka (2-36) and Kagiso Rabada (2-32) both claimed two wickets in over to drag South Africa back into a contest which seemed well beyond them with Australia on 83-2 and 120-4 chasing 173 for victory with captain Mitch Marsh in full control with an unbeaten 54.
But Maphaka’s extra pace induced the mistake from Marsh as he whipped a legside delivery to Lhuan-dre Pretorius on the deep square leg boundary and three balls later Cameron Green (9) made a similar error with a pull to Dewald Brevis at deep midwicket. Australia had slipped from 83-2 to 88-4.
Rabada was reintroduced to the attack in the 14th over with South Africa once again desperate for a wicket – and he delivered two when game one match-winner, Tim David (17) inexplicably pushed a full, straight delivery straight back to the bowler while Aaron Hardie (1) drove another full-length delivery to Corbin Bosch at long on four balls later.
Amazingly, Bosch (3-26) became the third bower to claim two wickets in an over, again when the situation seemed hopeless, dismissing Ben Dwarshuis (1) and Nathan Ellis (0) with consecutive deliveries. But Maxwell was at the non-striker’s end, waiting and ready with the killer blow.
Earlier Brevis struck six sixes, three of which disappeared over the main grandstand roof with pull and hook shots while the other trio were driven straight down the ground in characteristic fashion.
Brevis added just a single boundary before a pulling a slower-ball bouncer from seamer Ellis to deep midwicket where Maxwell held an outstanding, running catch leaving the innings faltering on 110-4 in the 12th over.
Tristan Stubbs (25 from 23 balls) failed to find his rhythm with just two fours before being bowled by legspinner Adam Zampa although Rassie van der Dussen, in the unfamiliar position of No 6, ensured a competitive total with a crisp 38 not out from 26 deliveries with three fours.
Captain Aiden Markram completed a disappointing series in his new role as opener adding just a single to scores of 18 and 12 before edging his third ball to slip but Lhuan-dre Pretorius bristled with intent driving and pulling five fours in 15 balls before pulling another Ellis slower ball straight to midwicket to depart for 24.
The three-match ODI series begins at the same venue on Tuesday before concluding in Mackay on Friday and Sunday.
AUSTRALIA: Mitch Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
SOUTH AFRICA: Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (captain), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.