Aussies win last-over thriller at T20 World Cup

3 years ago 267

It wasn't pretty, but it was conscionable enough.

Australia person snuck location with 2 balls to spare successful their T20 World Cup opener, with Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade steering the broadside home.

Chasing a humble people of conscionable 119 for victory, aft restricting South Africa to 8-118, the apical bid erstwhile again faltered arsenic Aaron Finch, David Warner and Shaun Marsh each departed wrong the archetypal fewer overs.

As the cards were handed successful fractional an hr earlier play, galore were wondering if the Aussies would elite to determination Smith up to archetypal driblet aft the team's disappointing warm-up to the tournament.

Despite erstwhile Test skipper Ian Chappell's calls for Smith to beryllium elevated up the batting order, the erstwhile skipper was initially named to bat fig 5 - but came successful up of Glenn Maxwell aft 2 aboriginal wickets.

And erstwhile Marsh was dismissed for 11 and Australia 3-38, it looked similar Smith and Maxwell would steer them safely to triumph earlier 2 moments of madness, conscionable minutes apart.

The archetypal was much brilliance connected the portion of Aiden Markram than thing else, sprinting immoderate 20 metres to marque a diving drawback to nonstop Smith connected his way, earlier 1 of Maxwell's patented reverse sweeps was an unfortunate aerial swing, which resulted successful a transportation from Tabraiz Shamsi crashing into his mediate stump.

But that would beryllium the past wicket Australia would lose, and thankfully, the unloseable pursuit proved conscionable that.

Wade (15* disconnected 10) and Stoinis (24* disconnected 16) came to the crease conscionable 3 balls apart, and it was the second who provided the winning runs hitting a 2 and a 4 disconnected the archetypal 2 Dwaine Pretorius deliveries of the last over, earlier different bound sealed the deal.

But portion questions rightly stay implicit the make-up of Australia's apical order, selections astatine the different extremity of the squad expanse were vindicated.

The squad went with conscionable 1 spinner for their opening lucifer of the T20 World Cup against South Africa, leaving Ashton Agar retired of the side.

With lone country for 4 bowlers, Australia elected not to spell with some Adam Zampa and Agar successful a 2 spinner combination, and alternatively leaned connected Maxwell to supply the different overs.

It was a determination that paid disconnected successful spades arsenic Maxwell got the opening wicket of the match, cleanable bowling Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma with conscionable his 3rd ball.

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Zampa each snared 2 wickets apiece portion Pat Cummins was the astir economical of the quintet, finishing with 1-17 disconnected his 4 overs.

Australia volition play Sri Lanka connected Friday greeting successful their 2nd of 5 excavation matches.

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