The Proteas managed 158-4 in their 20 overs during the second T20I against Australia at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday afternoon, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
Quinton de Kock yet again won the toss and opted to bat first as the Proteas went in search of keeping the series alive after suffering a humiliating defeat on Friday.
Reeza Hendricks was drafted in and opened the batting with the skipper, with Temba Bavuma still unfit for selection.
Dwaine Pretorius and Anrich Nortje were also picked with Andile Phehlukwayo and Dale Steyn making way.
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A much-better start with the bat was expected from the South Africans and the openers delivered by racing to 59-0 at the end of the powerplay with De Kock in destructive mode.
Kane Richardson made a valuable breakthrough when he got Hendricks caught on the boundary by Ashton Agar for 14.
Agar and fellow spinner Adam Zampa started to bring the run rate down with some excellent spin bowling, with the Proteas moving to 81-1 at the halfway mark of the innings.
Pat Cummins was brought back into the attack and he dismissed Faf du Plessis, who mistimed his shot and was caught in the deep by Richardson for 15.
De Kock, though, reached his half-century but disciplined bowling by the Australians made it difficult for the Proteas to score freely.
He would eventually fall for a very well-played 70, trying to go big against Zampa but was caught by Mitchell Starc.
Rassie van der Dussen knocked it around a bit but was also caught on the boundary for 37 off Richardson’s bowling.
Tight bowling by the visitors restricted the Proteas to 158-4 with David Miller (11) and Pite van Biljon (7) not out at the end.
Teams
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (c; wk), Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Pite van Biljon, David Miller, 7 Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi.
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.
Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix
