Australia vs. South Africa, 2nd T20, 2014: Highlights, Scorecard, Report
Australia destroyed South Africa in the second Twenty20 clash of their three-match series, levelling the scores at 1-1 with a seven-wicket win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The hosts restricted South Africa to a below-par total of 101-7 from their 20 overs. Ben Dunk, Aaron Finch and Shane Watson then made light work of their total, winning it with a remarkable 44 balls to spare.
The series now will be decided in Sydney on Sunday.
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It was a curious display from the Proteas, who won the toss and chose to bat first.
| de Kock | c Dunk | b Bollinger | 0 | 2 |
| R Hendricks | st Dunk | b Boyce | 18 | 37 |
| Rossouw | c and b Faulkner | 12 | 7 | |
| Duminy | c Finch | b Faulkner | 49 | 67 |
| Behardien | st Dunk | b Boyce | 5 | 12 |
| Miller | c Cummins | b Faulkner | 11 | 16 |
| McLaren | c Faulkner | b Cummins | 1 | 2 |
| Parnell | not out | 2 | 9 | |
| Abbott | not out | 2 | 5 | |
| Extras | 0nb 1w 0b 0lb | 1 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Bollinger | 4.0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Faulkner | 4.0 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| Abbott | 2.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Maxwell | 2.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Cummins | 4.0 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| Boyce | 4.0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
The writing was on the wall from just the second ball when Quinton de Kock was caught behind for a duck off the bowling of Doug Bollinger.
Their momentum stalled before it began, and they never truly recovered. Reeza Hendricks and Rilee Rossouw came and went without making an impression.
JP Duminy's experience and enterprise batting at four was required, but the stand-in captain couldn't find a way to accelerate in the innings. His 51-ball knock propped up the score, but when he fell for 49, it was hard not to conclude that he had not got the job done.
Australian leg-spinner Cameron Boyce impressed by picking up two wickets for the loss of just 15 runs, while speedster Pat Cummins was more economical still, conceding just 11 runs from his four overs. James Faulkner picked up three wickets as well.
"When he quit captaincy Bailey said to go to next level as a T20 side Aus had to find a world-class spinner. Boyce has started well #ausvsa
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) November 7, 2014"
The bowling from the Proteas had to be exceptional just to keep in touch with the Australians—and it was not.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| Dunk | c Abbott | b Parnell | 23 | 20 | 20 |
| Finch | not out | 44 | 55 | 30 | |
| Watson | c Abbott | b Parnell | 30 | 26 | 23 |
| Maxwell | c Rossouw | b Rabada | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| White | not out | 0 | 0 | ||
| Extras | 1nb 3w 0b 0lb | 4 | |||
| Total | for 3 (12.2 ovs) | 101 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| Abbott | 2.0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Rabada | 3.0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Duminy | 1.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Parnell | 3.2 | 1 | 16 | 2 | |
| Tahir | 2.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| McLaren | 1.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
Dunk recovered from an unsteady start to post 23 in just 20 balls before Wayne Parnell had him caught attacking the ball.
It only brought Watson and Finch together, and they upped the pace once again, bringing the total within sight in no time at all.
Watson's cameo of 30 came to an end to slow their chase down, but despite the loss of Glenn Maxwell for a duck, the victory was inevitable and brutal.
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