T20 Super league : South Africa 118 for nine in 20 overs

Saturday, 23 October 2021 - 17:33

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South Africa have set a 119-run target against Australia in the first match of the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

Australian captain Aaron Finch initially won the toss and opted to field.

South Africa posted 118 for nine in 20 overs with Aiden Markram smashing 40 off 36 balls.

For Australia, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa bagged two wickets each while Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell got a wicket each.

Australia, with the benefit of a few players coming off a good IPL, knew just what to do on a slow Abu Dhabi pitch. Josh Hazlewood (4-1-19-2) and Glenn Maxwell (4-0-24-1) were particularly difficult to deal with, their tight lines and into-the-wicket style completely tying the batters down and eventually taking them out.

With no room to work with, South Africa couldn't play any big shots. With tight fields, South Africa couldn't rotate strike. With no way out, South Africa stumbled to 118 for 9. 

Considering the nature of the pitch it will be too early to predict the outcome, but it seems 30 runs below par. South Africa do have bowlers who have been consistently performing for their IPL teams in these same grounds and will have a better measure of defending this score. Australia's build up to the tournament has not been that great with the batting coming short on many occasions. 

This therefore looks a tricky and an interesting chase, where all eyes will be on David Warner who has been having a lean patch losing his place in his IPl team as well. 

Australia Aaron Finch, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi