Australia edge South Africa in last-over nail-biter to seal 2-1 series Win

Glenn Maxwell hit his first T20I fifty in over a year, guiding Australia to a nail-biting win over South Africa in Cairns, and claiming the series. Chasing a target of 173, Australia were 122 for 6 in the 14th over when Maxwell arrived, but he was able to stabilize the innings. With 12 needed from the last two overs, the result looked assured until Corbin Bosch threw a spanner in the works.

Bosch bowled a brilliant double-wicket maiden in the second-to-last over. Taking two batters from the field in consecutive balls, and giving South Africa a second wind. Maxwell, however, was able to retain strike for the final over against Lungi Ngidi. Nine were needed: the first ball was dragged onto the long-on boundary, where Bosch prevented it, but Maxwell was then able to pierce cover for four. Turning down a single, he was required to get four off three, ultimately finishing the match with a trademark reverse scoop, and ending on 63*.

The victory marked Australia’s seventh consecutive bilateral T20I series without defeat. For South Africa, it marks their third last-over final defeat in the last year.

Brevis’ blitz set the tone before Maxwell’s heroics

Dewald Brevis was in intimidating form heading into the series decider following his 125-run knock. He announced himself with a swivel-pull over the roof of the stadium from the fifth ball he faced. Brevis continued to bash the bowlers, top-edging Josh Hazlewood for a six and then ripping into Aaron Hardie, hitting four sixes in one over, which went for 27 runs.

Brevis’s half-century came from just 22 balls, and he looked set for yet another century before Glenn Maxwell got him out. While trying to hit Nathan Ellis over long-on, Brevis was fooled by Maxwell’s incredible diving catch. He was running to his right to take a brilliant catch, which was also his second incredible catch of the series after taking Rickelton on the rope in the first match.

South Africa’s innings started slowly with Aiden Markram going for one, Rickelton for 13, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius for 24. It was only when Brevis started his fireworks partnered with Tristan Stubbs (25), the innings picked up pace before Rassie van der Dussen scored 38 not out off 26 balls, taking South Africa to 172 for 7. Ellis ended with the ball for 3 for 31 while Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa picked up two each.

Australia’s Strong Start Unravels in 18 Balls

Australia’s chase started well with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head racing the side to 64 without loss in the first seven overs, their first fifty-run opening partnership in eight innings. Marsh was put down on 25 by Rabada off his bowling, and once Marsh got that life, he cashed in to make his first T20I half-century in 19 innings, with more explosive hitting, including a flicked six over square leg.

Just as Australia started to look comfortable, Markram’s instinct to bowl himself got the momentum back for South Africa. In Markram’s second over, he almost held onto a brilliant return catch in the direction of Head, before he gained success two balls later to dismiss him. Once they got that first wicket, everything changed. The next over, Corbin Bosch bowled Josh Inglis for a golden duck, while Maphaka hat-tricked Marsh and Cameron Green on the boundary. In 18 balls, Australia lost 4 for 22 and had right back in South Africa’s contest.

Maxwell delivers the big finish

Glenn Maxwell stood on 39 off 25, and with 27 runs needed from three overs, Kagiso Rabada was preparing to bowl his last over. The outcome was uncertain. Rabada started with a full toss over the batter’s head, called a no-ball, and punished him with the free hit by launching one into the crowd.          On the next delivery, he took a single to bring his 30-ball fifty.

It must have started to feel like it was all within reach. 12 runs were needed with two overs to go, and with Maxwell on the crease, it had to favor Australia. He hit a boundary early in the last and rightfully finished the chase by reverse scooping Lungi Ngidi over short third for a four. Australia won by two wickets with a ball to spare. For South Africa, Bosch had a good performance, picking up three, with Rabada and teenager Kwena Maphaka both sharing two.

Contrasting series fortunes

This victory in Cairns extended Australia’s unbeaten streak in bilateral T20I series to seven, a period that has showcased both their resilience under pressure, as well as the different match-winners they have unearthed across formats. Of the previous six T20I series in that stretch, this was the first time a series had progressed to a decider. The coolness of the final phases of the decider lent more legitimacy to their claim to being one of the most reliable sides in pressure situations.

On the other side, this was more frustrating for South Africa. They now have one series win in their last ten T20I matches. They continually fall short in tight finish situations. This is now their third consecutive last-ball defeat in a final – after the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup and last month’s tri-series final in Zimbabwe. Despite consistent performances from Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs and a fine spell by their young quicks, poor execution in key moments continued to overshadow their development.