ABU DHABHI: Super 12s – Australia chasing a low score stumbled a bit before Mark Stoinis (24 runs) and Matthew Wade (15 runs) put together a 40 runs unbeaten partnership to see Australia go over the winning line.
After Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first, South Africa (SA) batsmen were restricted to a low score of 118 for 9 wickets off the 20 overs due to a clinical bowling performance by the Aussies. Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa strangled the SA batting with bowling figure of 2 for 19 and 2 for 21 respectively. Michelle Starc also picked up 2 wickets for 32 runs. Only Aiden Markram fought back to reach 40 runs off 36 balls.
Australia chasing the low score were in a spot of bother when they were 38 for 3 wickets in the 7th over due to South Africa’s lethal bowling by Nortje and Rabada. Keshav Maharaj (1 for 23 runs) and Shabzi (1 for 22 runs) also bowled economically making Australia to work hard to earn the runs. Contributions from Steve Smith (35 runs) and Marcus Stoinis (24 runs) were significant to help Australia to win by 5 wickets and collect the valuable 2 points. (RZ)
[Image credit icc-cricket.com]
