Australia vs South Africa 1st T20I Highlights: AUS beat SA by 17 runs and take 1-0 lead in Darwin

Rickelton is still fighting out here. Although it is still a difficult one to do, he is getting a few boundaries away quickly. He did not his timing through the day but now he has started to squeeze a few boundaries very quicky. It has been a cracking game of cricket we did have a lot of ups and downs through the evening and we are going into the final over to decide the winner.

The over from Hazlewood was followed by another good over from Adam Zampa, where he picked up two more wickets of Bosch and Muthysamy to kill South Africa's chances in the game. In scores such as this, it is all about how the captain shuffles the pack, and even a slight error can cost the side the game, but Marsh today has got all his moves perfectly timed.

Josh Hazlewood has opened up in this game in that 15th over. First, it was Stubbs who got an under edge and the ball carried to the keeper, and then it was Linde, the all-rounder, who got a pearler. This is good captaincy from Mitchell Marsh. He chose the right moment to bring back his ace bowler, and Hazlewood delivered, and now South Africa is in a bit of trouble.

There is a bit of urgency from South Africa since our last update. The running between the wickets has a bit more purpose, and the boundary options have opened up a bit more. Tristian Stubbs, who has been a bit hesitant initially in his innings, is now converting those risky percentages into doable hits. Australia needs to be a bit cautious here.

The Australians have mixed up the pace nicely here. It does seem to be one of those grounds where it is hard to hit sixes; however, David managed to do it with his sheer muscle, and South Africa has to match it. At this point in their innings, there are hardly any boundaries that South African batters are getting to take some pressure off themselves.

Australia is chipping away with the overs here. South Africa sooner rather than later needs a big over here. Either it can come as a 20-run over or a three to four overs where they manage to squeeze about 40-50 runs. Rickelton especially, is struggling with the pace of the surface here, he has spent a lot of time now, and he has to make the most of it.

Dwarshius has picked the prized scalp of Brevis cheaply here. The youngster can do a lot of damage; however, it is not meant to be today. The difference between the Australian innings and this chase is although Australia lost wickets, they kept going after the bowlers, but that has not been the case. South Africa has taken a bit more cautious approach.

Glenn Maxwell has picked up Pretorius here. The gamble by Mitchell Marsh to bowl Maxwell two in the powerplay against left-handers worked. It was a tossed-up delivery which Pretorius tried to hit out of the park but chipped it straight to long-off. South Africa has lost two wickets in the power play. They need to build a partnership here.

Pretorius has got himself off to a good start here. It is one of those chases that can be killed in powerplay by South Africa if they manage to get a flyer. Although Australia too got off to a flyer in their innings, they have lost one too many wickets. If South Africa can close out this powerplay around 50-60 for a loss of one, they will be firm favourites to win this.

Aiden Markram played a few sublime shots before trying to play one uppishly through the offside,and Cameron Green took the catch at cover. That is an early breakthrough for Australia, although it is an expensive one. Josh Hazlewood is the man who created that wicket, and who else can it be with the form Hazlewood has been in this format of the game? 

It has been a bit of a long break here in Darwin, but the fielders have come out, and both the South African openers too. A lot will depend on the dew here, and if there is any of it, that will make it easier for South Africa in the chase, and if not, Australian bowlers are quite handy with their slower ones and can cause problems.

Australia (Playing XI): Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh(c), Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram(c), Ryan Rickelton(w), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

Off the final ball, Nathan Ellis got himself run out trying to steal the second run, and Australia were bundled out for 178 runs in the end. It could have been a lot worse for them, but thanks to some sloppy bowling and fielding by the South Africans, they have managed to put a good total on the board. Also, credit to Tim David who played the brutal innings of 83 runs.

Maphaka gets his third wicket of the evening, and it is the most important one of Tim David. David tried to whip one on the leg-side and he mistimed it, and the ball went high in the air, and Tristian Stubbs, who dropped one earlier this time, finishes the catch. As we update, Maphaka picked up another one, and this time it is Adam Zampa.

This is turning into a cracking innings from Tim David. He is taking Australia to a good score. Will that be enough? Only time will tell, but the odd slower one is sticking on the surface, and Australia has quite a few bowlers who can use that slower one. David is on course to get his ton, and if he does manage to do so, Australia will post a very good total.

Young Maphaka comes back into the attack and picks up the wicket. Dwarshuis, who has played quite cautiously, decided to take his chance and hit it over mid-off fielder; however, the ball hit the bottom of his bat, and Aiden Markram took a lovely catch to break the partnership. Australia can get to around 170 here if they play their cards right.

Tim David is playing a gem of an innings here. He has been in good form in recent times, and he is carrying it forward here today. To be fair to him, he did not have to adjust too much here today, he was just playing his natural game. He respected the good delivery by defending and punishing the poor delivery into the stands. This is a pretty hand from him.

Well, spin has brought in a bit of control for South Africa, or else it has been quite frantic so far. Once again, it is one of those things in this format of the game that is how hard it too hard. There were times in this innings they had to apply the brakes and play differently than Australia did, but they went on their six-hitting spree and ended in their current predicament.

Australia has lost two more wickets now. First, it was Maphaka who bowled a series of slower ones, and Mitchell Owen decided to charge down the track but gave it away too early, and Maphaka delivered a 140+ cracker, and Owen's stumps got cleaned. And the next was Maxwell who looked like a cat on a hot tin roof, ended up a wide one, giving straight to cover on the boundary. Australia have lost six now.

Well, it has been all or nothing. For a brief period, both Tim David and Cameron Green were having a range-hitting session, and the South Africans were going through the motion. However, Ngidi decided to slip a slower one, and the pitch responded, and he bowled three in a row, and the third one yielded the wicket of Green, who skied one in the air, and Ryan Rickelton completed the rest.

Rabada has come back and picked up his second wicket. It was a hard-length delivery and Marsh played the shot too early, and the leading edge went high up in the air and stayed there for ages. Maphaka, who was at fine-leg, took a lovely catch and dismissed the Australian skipper. Tim David has walked into the middle, it is a bit of foreign territory for him, coming in the power play.

Australia has lost two wickets since our last update first it was Travis Head who was sucked to play a shot of wide full one and he ended up looping it straight to point fielder and then with Inglish coming in and two right-handers in the middle Markram quickly turned to Linde his left-arm spinner and Inglis trying to back-cut one hit it straight to point fielder again. Australia has lost two in quick time.

Well that is an expansive start. Lungi Ngidi floated one right up there to Mitchell Marsh, and the batter obliged and hit him over the long-off boundary for a six. That's a great way to start the cricketing season in Australia. Ngidi did not stop there; he bowled another loose one, wide outside the off-stump, which Marsh pummeled for a boundary to make an expensive opening over

It promises to be a cracking contest. While most of these bilaterals don't consist of big names, this series is a rare occasion where both sides almost have their players who will be around starting XIs in India and Sri Lanka come summer next year for the T20 event. Sit back and relax, we have a lovely game on our hands.

The Australia vs South Africa 1st T20I will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website and live on the Star Sports network in Television

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh(c), Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Aiden Markram(c), Ryan Rickelton(w), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

We were going to have a bowl first. Mainly we haven't played here as a group, but it (the pitch) does look like a belter. No I didn't (know they were on a 8-game winning streak). Hopefully the winning way continues.. We have had a great lead up as group and hopefully put on a show for the Darwin crowd. This ground is bigger than St. Kitts but we do have a lot of power, some of the young guys are awesome to watch.

We are going have a bowl. Not too much info on this venue, will have a look at it with the ball and then take it from there. It has been good. We have been here for a week or so, the boys have been up and about, some nice things to do around and training as well. We are trying to fine tune a lot of things building up to that World Cup, starting with testing out some new faces and having the guys like KG and Lungi back.

"It's great having the experienced guys back, nice and refreshed as well. You can see they are raring to go."

"It'll be myself and Heady up the top for the foreseeable future. We've played a lot together and we've got a great relationship, so we'll start there."

Before this series, Australia had taken on West Indies and thrashed them 5-0 in a T20I seris. South Africa, meanwhile, took part ina Tri-series with New Zealand and Zimbabwe but won just 2 matches in the 5 they played, that too against Zimbabwe. They, meanwhile, lost all three matches they playe against new Zealand, including the final. 

Oct 01: New Zealand vs Australia, 1st T20I

Oct 03: New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd T20I

Oct 04: New Zealand vs Australia, 3rd T20I

Oct 29: Australia vs India, 1st T20I

Oct 31: Australia vs India, 2nd T20I

Nov 02: Australia vs India, 3rd T20I

Nov 06: Australia vs India, 4th T20I

Nov 08: Australia vs India, 5th T20I

Sep 10: England vs South Africa, 1st T20I

Sep 12: England vs South Africa, 2nd T20I

Sep 14: England vs South Africa, 3rd T20I

Oct 11: Namibia vs South Africa, Only T20I

Dec 09: India vs South Africa, 1st T20I

Dec 11: India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I

Dec 14: India vs South Africa, 3rd T20I

Dec 17: India vs South Africa, 4th T20I

Dec 19: India vs South Africa, 5th T20I

Jan 27: South Africa vs West Indies, 1st T20I

Jan 29: South Africa vs West Indies, 2nd T20I

Feb 01: South Africa vs West Indies, 3rd T20I

Feb 04: South Africa vs West Indies, 4th T20I

Feb 06: South Africa vs West Indies, 5th T20I

Mar 15: New Zealand vs South Africa, 1st T20I

Mar 17: New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd T20I

Mar 20: New Zealand vs South Africa, 3rd T20I

Mar 22: New Zealand vs South Africa, 4th T20I

Mar 25: New Zealand vs South Africa, 5th T20I

The second T20I between the two teams will also take place at Darwin while the 3rd will emanate from Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns. The ODI series will start from Auguts 19 with the 1st taking place in Cairns and the 2nd and 3rd will be held at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay.

Aug 10: Australia vs South Africa, 1st T20I

Aug 12: Australia vs South Africa, 2nd T20I

Aug 16: Australia vs South Africa, 3rd T20I

Aug 19: Australia vs South Africa, 1st ODI

Aug 22: Australia vs South Africa, 2nd ODI

Aug 24: Australia vs South Africa, 3rd ODI

The Darwin ground will host its first ever T20I match and with the nature of a drop-in pitc adding to the mystery, it will be interesting to see how the ball behaves. It has, however, hosted 2 Tests and 4 ODIs where the pitch offered plenty of green which might see a more balanced fight between the bat and the ball.  

Australia: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Matthew Short, Matthew Kuhnemann

South Africa: Aiden Markram(c), Ryan Rickelton(w), Rassie van der Dussen, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Prenelan Subrayen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Senuran Muthusamy, Nqabayomzi Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius

“I think it was special, and I’ve done so many interviews on that since. I think it’s time to move on. I don’t think we’ll forget about that ever as a team, and South Africa won’t ever (forget), but time to move on now.” 

“It’ll be myself and Heady (Travis Head) up the top for the foreseeable future. Obviously we’ve played a lot together, (we’ve) got a great relationship, so (we’ll) start there. As a group leading into the World Cup the messaging has been about requiring guys to be flexible."

The last time these two sides played a T20 series was back in 2023 when Australia travelled to South Africa and thrashed the hosts 3-0 in a whitwash. AUS won the first match by 111 runs, second match by 8 wickets and then continued the rout by winning the 3rd match by 5 wickets

AUS: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.

SA: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter.

South Africa and Australia have faced each other 25 times in the shortest format with the Aussies coming up trumps in 17 matches while the Proteas have won 8 times.

Australia and South Africa have been entwined in a rivalry in ICC tournaments for what feels like an eternity. The Aussies have always managed to one-up the Proteas in most of their encounters on the big stage but in 2025, the South Africans flipped the script when they managed to defeat their eternal rivals in the World Test Championship final back in June. On Sunday, the two sides lock horns once again in the first match of a 3-game T20I series as the push for the 2026 T20 World Cup begins in earnest. Follow this blog live to find out what transpires today.