Australia battered Proteas in Durban

A rusty looking Proteas outfit took a battering from Australia in their first T20I in Durban by 111 runs.

South Africa won the toss and elected to field first but despite getting among the wickets early they could not slow the Australian charge led by skipper Mitch Marsh.

PROTEAS GET BATTERED IN DURBAN

Marsh ended on 92 not out and shared a match-turning 97-run partnership with Tim David, who contributed 64 to the cause.

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Lizaad Williams was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with figures of 3 for 44 from his four overs.

Australia’s 226 for 6 was the highest ever total scored at Kingsmead in a T20 but it was a score struck on one of the better pitches that have ever been rolled out for a match in Durban.

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In response, the Proteas never really got going despite Reeza Hendricks stroking fifty up top.

Australian debutant Tanveer Sangha also got stuck into the hosts with a four-wicket haul to mark his introduction to international cricket.

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A young Proteas middle order folded under pressure to expose the long tail and a huge defeat followed.

It has been a long off-season for the Proteas but skipper Aiden Markam claimed that was no excuse.

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“The wicket played really well and there was a bit of rust in every discipline,” Markam said. 

“That’s no excuse for me and opportunities for new guys. It felt and looked a bit rusty and we have to come back strong on Friday. We want to be competitive and win games for the country.”

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TEAMS

South Africa: 1 Temba Bavuma, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram (capt), 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Tristan Stubbs (wk), 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Lungi Ngidi, 10 Lizaad Williams, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

Australia: 1 Matthew Short, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Tim David, 7 Aaron Hardie, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Tanveer Sangha, 11 Spencer Johnson.