DARWIN (AUSTRALIA): Tim David smashed eight sixes in a blistering 83 off 52 balls to power Australia to a 17-run win over South Africa in the first T20 on Sunday, marking the return of international cricket to Darwin after 17 years.
David’s explosive knock lifted Australia to 178 all out after an early collapse saw five wickets tumble inside the first seven overs. In reply, South Africa reached 161-9, with Josh Hazlewood (3-27) delivering the killer blows and Glenn Maxwell pulling off a spectacular final-over catch to seal Australia’s ninth straight T20 win.
Opener Ryan Rickelton (71) and Tristan Stubbs (37) kept South Africa’s hopes alive with a 72-run stand after a shaky start at 48-3. Captain Aiden Markram, back in charge after resting during the Zimbabwe triangular series, briefly counterattacked with three boundaries in Hazlewood’s first over before falling in the same over. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (14) holed out off Maxwell’s off-spin, and Ben Dwarshuis (3-26) removed big-hitter Dewald Brevis for just two.
As the chase intensified, Adam Zampa struggled with a wet ball, but Hazlewood’s return triggered a collapse — four wickets for just three runs. Stubbs edged a slower ball, George Linde fell to Maxwell at slip for a duck, and Zampa finished with 2-33 after dismissing Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy off consecutive deliveries.
Earlier, 19-year-old Kwena Maphaka (4-20) became the youngest bowler from a full ICC member nation to claim a T20I four-wicket haul. His efforts, along with Kagiso Rabada’s 2-29, reduced Australia to 54-5 despite Mitchell Marsh’s first-ball six off Lungi Ngidi and Cameron Green’s rapid 35 off 13 balls.
David, dropped by Stubbs soon after reaching his half-century, made South Africa pay, adding 59 with Dwarshuis (17) before Maphaka removed both in his final over. Nathan Ellis chipped in with 12 before being run out on the last ball, with Australia bowled out for the first time in T20 history — but still with enough runs to defend.
