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Match Report:

Scorecard

Proteas level series with tense win in Port Elizabeth

A stirring fightback with the ball has helped the Proteas restore pride and set up a series decider in Cape Town

Australia's nine-match unbeaten run in T20s has come to a dramatic end, a tense 12-run loss to South Africa in Port Elizabeth costing them a chance to take the world No.1 ranking for the first time.

Australia's defeat at St George's Park is their first in T20 cricket since November 2018 and means the three-match series will be decided in Cape Town early on Thursday morning (AEDT).

Middle order better for that experience: McDonald

A 3-0 series win would have seen Australia move ahead of Pakistan to the top of the T20 rankings, but they now need to win at Newlands to avoid slipping behind England and into third position.

Sunday's nail-biting clash in front of a raucous home crowd, led by St George's Park's famous brass band, came down to the final two overs of the match, with Australia needing 20 to win and opener David Warner (67 not out from 56 balls) still at the crease.

Image Id: DF80256608DB4363A2468E937489B6CC Image Caption: Warner gave his all // AAP

But a brilliant 19th over from Kagiso Rabada that yielded just three runs and the wicket of Matthew Wade left the Australians with 17 to win from the last over, a task that proved far too steep on a wearing pitch.

Arguably the turning point of a dramatic run chase came on the penultimate ball of the 17th over when Faf du Plessis and David Miller combined for a brilliant boundary-line catch to remove Mitchell Marsh for six, the second wicket in a mini collapse of 4-19 at a crucial stage of the game.

Having earlier fluffed his lines when attempting to catch Alex Carey on the rope at long-off, du Plessis caught a high ball from Marsh and, as his momentum took him over the boundary, he tossed the ball to the approaching Miller, who dived forward to claim the catch.

Du Plessis had earlier taken an excellent catch diving forward to remove Steve Smith after Australia’s former captain had added 50 for the second wicket with Warner. 

Image Id: 11406DAE0431468481CAA7B053115352 Image Caption: Anrich Nortje is pumped after bowling the final over // AAP

Australia's innings, like South Africa's, slowed considerably in the final 10 overs and the tourists managed just two boundaries – a four and a six – between Smith's dismissal for 29 in the 13 over and the end of the game.

Apart from Smith, no one could go with Warner as South Africa's bowlers turned the screws, with Tabrazi Shamsi (0-17 from four overs) reducing the run rate and Lungi Ngidi (3-41 from four) making vital breakthroughs.

Super Smith soars to save sixes on the boundary

South Africa's innings was highlighted by some fielding brilliance from Smith as well as a brisk innings of 70 from skipper Quinton de Kock that helped guide the Proteas to 59 from their opening six overs.

After his side had been skittled for just 89 in the series opener, de Kock ensured there would be no repeat here as he launched four sixes in his 47-ball innings, including a pull shot off Mitchell Starc that sailed over the western grandstand and out of the ground.

One lusty strike from Rassie van der Dussen also required a ball change, the right-hander slamming Adam Zampa over the scoreboard on the eastern side of the ground during his innings of 37 from 26 balls.

Aussies crush Proteas in record-breaking win

But South Africa's total of 4-158 would have been considerably more if not for several moments of superb athleticism in the field from Smith.

In the sixth over, the former skipper intercepted what should have been a six from de Kock by launching himself backwards over the boundary rope at deep mid-wicket and throwing the ball back into play, stunning the Proteas batsmen, who managed to run just a single.

And Smith repeated the dose on the final ball of the innings, saving another four runs by catching a ball from Miller as he dived over the rope before throwing it back into play.

Those two interventions alone saved his side nine runs that looked likely to be pivotal in the final wash-up, but Australia's new-look middle order fell short to set up a series decider.

South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock (ct, wk), Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius,  Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.

Australia's Qantas Tour of South Africa 2020

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitch Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (vc), Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

First T20: Australia won by 107 runs

Second T20: South Africa won by 12 runs

Third T20: February 26 at Cape Town. 3am AEDT (Feb 27), Fox Cricket & Kayo

First ODI: February 29 at Paarl (D/N). 10pm AEDT, Fox Cricket & Kayo

Second ODI: March 4 at Bloemfontein (D/N). 10pm AEDT, Fox Cricket & Kayo

Third ODI: March 7 at Potchefstroom. 7pm AEDT, Fox Cricket & Kayo