Australia had to work a bit hard to etch a win against South Africa despite getting a good start from the bowlers in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 23 October. Chasing 119 in 20 overs, the Australian team lost some early wickets and were reduced to 38/3 before Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell joined hands to stitch a stand of 42 runs for the fourth wicket.
But Smith’s departure for 35 was followed by Maxwell’s dismissal who was undone by Tabraiz Shamsi as the Aussie side was left tottering at 81/5 in the 16th over.
Later, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade took the onus on themselves and steadied the ship for the side with an unbeaten partnership of 40 runs for the sixth wicket.
Stoinis remained unbeaten at 24 off 16 while Wade struck a 10-ball 15* to see the side home by 5 wickets in the final over. Anrich Nortje was the pick of the bowlers who scalped a couple of wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs while Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Shamsi bagged a wicket apiece during the course.
Earlier, in the day, Aaron Finch who won the toss asked South Africa to bat first and the Australian bowlers responded pretty well.
First Glenn Maxwell cleaned up a dangerous-looking Temba Bavuma and then Josh Halewood scalped a couple of wickets in quick succession that included the dismissal of Quinton de Kock. The Proteas were soon reduced to 46/4 before Aiden Markram and David Miller tried to provide some resistance to the side.
The right-left batting combination scored 34 runs for the fifth wicket but Miller’s departure broke the shackles and South Africa lost wickets in quick succession to get restricted to 118/9 in 20 overs eventually.
Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Adam Zampa picked up two wickets each while Maxwell and Cummins had one wicket each to their name.
Later, Australia captain Finch lauded Stoinis and Wade for keeping their composure and taking the team over the line.
“The dugout was relaxed than I was. Quite stressful, and I was nervous. Stoinis and Wade showed a cool head to get us over the line, and that is what a bit of experience can do. Maxwell did a really good job with the ball. We knew he had good matchups in the powerplay. Our whole bowling unit was outstanding,” he said in the post-match presentation.
Australia will now play Sri Lanka on October 28 while South Africa will be up against the West Indies on October 26 in Dubai.