August 16: Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten half-century powered Australia to a dramatic two-wicket victory over South Africa in the series-deciding T20 on Saturday, securing a 2-1 triumph.
With four runs needed off the final two balls, Maxwell executed a trademark reverse sweep off Lungi Ngidi to the third-man boundary, finishing unbeaten on 62 from 36 deliveries. Australia chased down South Africa’s 172-7 with two balls to spare, denying the Proteas what would have been their first-ever T20 series win on Australian soil.
Earlier, rising South African star Dewald Brevis lit up the contest with a dazzling 53 off just 26 balls, including four consecutive sixes off Aaron Hardie. His dismissal, however, proved pivotal as Australia’s bowlers regained control and restricted the visitors to a below-par finish.
The match began with both teams observing a minute’s silence in tribute to former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson, who passed away at the age of 89.
Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh, who opted to chase after winning the toss, set the tone with a brisk 54, while Travis Head helped add 66 for the second wicket inside eight overs. But South Africa stormed back, taking four wickets in four overs. Head fell cheaply after Aiden Markram missed a tough return catch, before Corbin Bosch and teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka dismantled the middle order. Australia slumped to 88-4, then 122-6 after Kagiso Rabada’s double strike removed Tim David and Hardie.
Maxwell, however, absorbed the pressure. Shielding Ben Dwarshuis, who contributed just one run from six deliveries, he kept the chase alive with calculated strokes and well-timed boundaries. Their 41-run stand dragged Australia within striking distance, before Bosch nearly swung the contest back again with the wickets of Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis in quick succession.
Needing 12 from the final two overs, Maxwell’s composure proved decisive. He struck eight fours and two sixes in a Player-of-the-Match performance that sealed one of Australia’s most gripping T20 wins in recent memory.
“It was a little bit nerve-wracking,” Maxwell admitted after the match. “When we lost a couple of wickets in a row, Corbin Bosch bowled a brilliant over to keep the rate around 9 or 10. I knew I’d have to take most of the strike, but it was nice to get a couple out of the middle at the end.”
For South Africa, Brevis’ fireworks stood out. The 22-year-old raised his half-century off just 22 balls and thrilled the crowd with six towering sixes. His departure, courtesy of a sharp short ball from Ellis and a stunning diving catch by Maxwell at mid-on, halted the Proteas’ momentum.
Ellis finished with figures of 3-31, supported by Adam Zampa’s economical 2-24 and Josh Hazlewood’s 2-30.
Australia’s resilience, capped by Maxwell’s brilliance, ensured a fitting finale to a fiercely contested series.
