The Proteas posted 108-6 against Australia in their reduced 10-over-a-side clash in Carrara.
The Proteas came out swinging as they should have. With the match converted to a T10I, the Proteas aimed to take full advantage of the three-over powerplay.
Quinton de Kock took full advantage of the situation to play his natural game. He was supported by Reeza Hendricks who hit a quickfire 19 off eight balls (one six, three fours) before he top-edged to deep square.
The reduced overs caused De Kock to search for boundaries and while on 22 off 16 balls (two sixes), he skipped down the track to smash Glenn Maxwell for six but was stumped by Alex Carrey.
Faf du Plessis (27 off 15 balls, four fours) played entertaining cricket. He played a variety of power shots – pulls, cuts and drives – but was unluckily dismissed as a result of a magnificent piece of fielding from Maxwell on the deep mid-wicket boundary. After a Du Plessis pull-shot, Maxwell caught the ball over the rope and showed terrific awareness to flick the ball in the air, step back infield and complete the catch.
Heinrich Klaasen was dismissed for 12 off six balls and David Miller scored 11 off 10 balls as the Proteas were reduced to 104-5 in nine overs.
Australia conceded only four in the final over and dismissed Chris Morris for a duck, as the Proteas posted 108-6.
Proteas innings 108-6 – Faf du Plessis 27, Quinton de Kock 22; Nathan Coulter-Nile 2-19, Andrew Tye 2-18.
Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
