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In a commanding performance, Australia outclassed South Africa in the second T20I at Kingsmead, Durban, on Friday. The visitors showcased excellence in every aspect of the game, securing an emphatic 8-wicket win that also clinched the series.
Opting to bowl first, the Australian team effectively stifled the Proteas’ batting lineup, leaving them with no room for free runs. Notably, Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis emerged as the game-changers with their disciplined and skillful bowling display.
Ellis’s beauty silences hopes of Brevis
The turning point in the match arrived in the 6th over of the South African innings when Reeza Hendricks departed, courtesy of Nathan Ellis’s brilliance. The stage was set for young prodigy Dewald Brevis, batting alongside captain Aiden Markram. South African fans hoped for a turnaround, banking on Brevis’s batting prowess.
ALSO READ: Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short power Australia to a T20I series win after the pacers keep South Africa in check
However, the excitement was short-lived as Brevis, in only his second T20I appearance, encountered a delivery that left everyone in awe. As Brevis took his guard, Ellis delivered a fullish ball just outside off stump.
Brevis, tempted into a push, could only manage an outside edge behind the stumps. Josh Inglis, the Australian wicketkeeper, showcased brilliant reflexes, diving to his right to secure a spectacular catch. This unfortunate dismissal saw Dewald Brevis making a dramatic exit, dismissed for a golden duck.
Here is the video:
Dewald Brevis Out on a golden duck , beauty from Nathan Ellis#SAvAUS #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/4AYKYcagiV
— Shoaib Awan (@shoaibawan365) September 1, 2023
Markram hopeful of improvement
After the game, Proteas skipper Markram reflected on his team’s performance and discussed the key moments and challenges they faced. He mentioned that his team had a promising beginning but they encountered difficulties when they started losing wickets. Markram also described his team as a younger group with limited international experience before expressing a commitment to improve and compete more effectively in the upcoming games.
“We got off to a great start, but then the loss of wickets made it challenging. We wanted to take it deep. When they came out and batted, it is hard to keep your nerve when there are two big boys trying to whack it around. This is a younger group, slightly inexperienced. It is still international cricket, we will look to compete better on Sunday,” said Markram after the game.
