AUS vs SA: Australia storm to ninth T20I win in a row; India and Afghanistan still out of reach | Cricket News
Australia secured a 17-run victory over South Africa in the first T20 match in Darwin on Sunday, marking international cricket’s return to the city after 17 years. Tim David’s explosive 83-run innings, featuring eight sixes, propelled Australia to 178 all out, while South Africa managed 161-9 despite Ryan Rickelton’s 71-run effort.It was the ninth straight win in T20Is for the Australian team, but interestingly, Afghanistan and India are still ahead in the list of most consecutive victories in T20Is by a full member nation. Both India and Afghanistan have won 12 T20Is in a row.The longest winning streak in T20I history belongs to Uganda, who racked up 17 consecutive victories. Previously, Pakistan and New Zealand had each managed nine wins on the trot, while England’s best run in the format stands at eight straight matches.Meanwhile, David’s aggressive knock came off 52 balls and proved crucial after Australia lost five key batsmen within the first seven overs. His powerful hitting included several sixes that landed on the stadium roof.
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The match also saw 19-year-old Kwena Maphaka become the youngest bowler among full ICC member countries to claim a four-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 4-20. However, his achievement was overshadowed by David’s remarkable batting display.Australian captain Mitchell Marsh began the three-match series with a six off the first ball from Lungi Ngidi. The hosts then faced a collapse as Kagiso Rabada claimed both openers, and Maphaka made further inroads into the middle order.Travis Head departed for just 2 runs after being caught by Maphaka at short third man. Marsh followed soon after when Maphaka took a well-judged running catch at square leg.Cameron Green contributed a quickfire 35 off 13 balls before being caught by wicketkeeper Rickelton. Josh Inglis fell to George Linde’s first delivery, failing to clear the point fielder.David’s innings received a lifeline when Tristan Stubbs dropped a straightforward catch in the outfield after the batsman had reached his fifty. He went on to form a 59-run partnership with Ben Dwarshuis, who scored 17.South Africa’s chase began poorly, losing three wickets during the powerplay and slumping to 48-3. Captain Aiden Markram, back after resting during the Zimbabwe triangular series, briefly showed promise before being caught in the covers.Rickelton and Stubbs revived South Africa’s hopes with a 72-run partnership. However, Josh Hazlewood’s double strike in the 15th over shifted the momentum back to Australia.The visitors lost four wickets for just three runs as their chase faltered. Adam Zampa, despite struggling with a wet ball earlier, finished with figures of 2-33, dismissing Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy off the final two balls of his spell.Hazlewood ended with impressive figures of 3-27, while Dwarshuis matched him with 3-26. The victory extended Australia’s winning streak in T20 internationals to nine matches.The match concluded dramatically when Nathan Ellis was run out off the final ball, marking the first time South Africa had bowled out Australia in a T20 match. Glenn Maxwell’s spectacular catch to dismiss Rickelton in the final over sealed the home team’s victory.
