Australia vs. South Africa, 3rd T20, 2014: Highlights, Scorecard and Report
Australia claimed a 2-1 win in their Twenty20 series with South Africa, taking a narrow final game with two wickets and one ball to spare.
The Proteas were sent in to bat first. They started well but faded away to score 145-6 from their 20 overs.
Australia always looked to have the required run rate in hand, but the regular fall of wickets meant that the finale was an intriguing one.
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South Africa looked in good shape after the capitulation in the previous game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| de Kock | c Dunk | b Cummins | 48 | 32 | 27 |
| R Hendricks | b Bollinger | 49 | 58 | 48 | |
| Rossouw | c Abbott | b Boyce | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| Miller | not out | 34 | 41 | 26 | |
| Behardien | c Abbott | b Faulkner | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Duminy | c Maxwell | b Faulkner | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Wiese | c Dunk | b Faulkner | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Peterson | not out | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
| Total | for 6 (20.0 ovs) | 145 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| Bollinger | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| Maxwell | 4.0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| Faulkner | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
| Abbott | 1.0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Boyce | 3.0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| Cummins | 4.0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
The opening stand, with Quinton de Kock partnered by Reeza Hendricks, was an excellent one, with Hendricks ticking over as De Kock cut loose.
Australia tried to be inventive, using Glenn Maxwell's spin early to restrict the Proteas, but while Maxwell was economical, De Kock took opportunities that came his way, crunching two sixes in a 27-ball 48.
He left behind him a decent platform at 75-1 in the ninth over, but his team-mates could not build on it. Hendricks was among the wickets to fall as the run rate dried up, with left-arm seamer James Faulkner the scourge of the middle order, picking up three wickets.
Aside from the openers, only David Miller broke into double figures, leaving the team frustrated at the end of their innings.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| Dunk | c and b Peterson | 14 | 25 | 8 | |
| Finch | c de Lange | b Wiese | 33 | 16 | 25 |
| Watson | c Miller | b Peterson | 5 | 18 | 10 |
| Maddinson | b Wiese | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| Maxwell | c R Hendricks | b Peterson | 23 | 18 | 15 |
| White | not out | 41 | 51 | 31 | |
| Faulkner | c Miller | b de Lange | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| Cummins | c and b Wiese | 3 | 8 | 7 | |
| Abbott | lbw | b Abbott | 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Boyce | not out | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total | for 8 (19.5 ovs) | 146 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| Abbott | 3.5 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| de Lange | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| Parnell | 4.0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| Wiese | 4.0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| Peterson | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
There were big hits from the Australians—captain Aaron Finch dumped two balls into the stands early on as the hosts looked to seal the series in a hurry—but the wickets kept the Proteas in the contest.
Robin Peterson's gentle spin proved effective, with the left-armer picking up three wickets for 28 runs, including a senseless slog from Maxwell just as the batsman looked to have taken charge of the innings.
It drew attention to the absence of leg-break bowler Imran Tahir, who might too have thrived on the surface.
But with a required run rate of just seven an over, Australia were always in a strong position. With the power and experience of Cameron White in the middle order, they looked sure to get over the line.
But some inspired bowling from Kyle Abbott in the final over, trapping namesake Sean Abbott lbw, made sure the game would go to the wire. Australia eventually only came through with a single delivery to spare.
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