In a dramatic night at Marrara Oval, Australia pulled off a thrilling 17-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I of their three-match series, thanks to a breathtaking knock from Tim David and a clinical bowling display led by Josh Hazlewood.

The Aussies, who were in deep trouble at 6/75 after a reckless top-order collapse, rallied to post 178 on the back of David’s sensational 83 off 52 balls, studded with eight towering sixes. The Proteas, chasing a gettable target, faltered under pressure and could only muster 161/9, despite a valiant 71 from wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton.

Early chaos for Australia

The match began with fireworks when Mitchell Marsh, captaining Australia, launched the very first ball from Lungi Ngidi over long-off for six. But that promising start quickly unraveled. Travis Head (2) fell in the second over, and new No. 3 Josh Inglis was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the third.

Marsh (13) then skied Kagiso Rabada to deep square leg, before Cameron Green played a quick but risky cameo — 35 off 13 balls — only to perish trying to hit Ngidi over the top. Mitch Owen followed with what commentators called the “worst shot of the night”, charging teenage pacer Kwena Maphaka and losing his off stump.

At 6/75 inside the first 10 overs, South Africa sensed blood.

Tim David’s rescue act

Enter Tim David. The big-hitting middle-order batter was given a lifeline when, on 56, he skied a delivery from Senuran Muthusamy straight to Tristan Stubbs at long-on — only for Stubbs to drop a sitter. The next two balls? Both disappeared over the boundary.

David’s controlled aggression, combined with smart batting with the tail, turned the innings around. His 83 was not only brutal but also perfectly timed, ensuring Australia posted a total that suddenly looked competitive given the conditions.

South Africa’s chase falters

South Africa’s reply started cautiously, anchored by Ryan Rickelton, who crafted 71 off 55 balls. But regular wickets at the other end meant the chase never fully took off.

Opening the bowling, Glenn Maxwell struck early and later pulled off one of the catches of the year — leaping over the boundary and tossing the ball back in to dismiss Rickelton in the final over.

Josh Hazlewood, ever the dependable figure in Australia’s attack, returned figures of 3/27, while veteran leg-spinner Adam Zampa claimed 2/33. The combination of disciplined pace and clever spin stifled the Proteas’ middle order.

Australia’s golden T20 run

This win adds another chapter to Australia’s remarkable T20 dominance. They have now won 23 of their last 27 T20 internationals, including a 5-0 clean sweep in the Caribbean last month.

For South Africa, the numbers tell a different story — just six wins from their past 13 matches, with no series wins in their last three bilateral contests. The road ahead in this series looks challenging unless they can find both top-order stability and death-overs firepower.

What’s next?

The teams will now head into the second T20 with Australia carrying momentum and confidence. For the Proteas, the challenge will be finding a way to contain hitters like Tim David while also building partnerships in the chase.

As Darwin’s crowd celebrated under the tropical night sky, this match was a reminder of cricket’s unpredictability — where one dropped catch or one inspired knock can flip the script entirely.

Key Stats from the Match:

• Tim David – 83 (52), 8 sixes
• Josh Hazlewood – 3/27
• Ryan Rickelton – 71 (55)
• Australia’s T20 record – Won 23 of last 27 matches

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