Australia seized back control in the 1st T20I against South Africa at the Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin, thanks to crucial double strikes from Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa at key stages of the chase. South Africa, needing 179 for victory, looked to be building momentum through the middle overs, but two sharp bursts from the Australian attack left the visitors reeling.
Hazlewood’s impact came in the 15th over, breaking a dangerous 72-run stand between Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs. First, Stubbs fell for 37 off 27 balls, caught behind by Josh Inglis after getting an under edge to an off-cutter. Just three balls later, Hazlewood struck again, sending George Linde back for a duck, caught at cover by Glenn Maxwell. The double blow reduced South Africa from 120/3 to 120/5, halting their charge.
If that wasn’t enough, the very next over brought another twist. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa joined the act with a double strike of his own. Corbin Bosch was bowled for 2, undone by a slider that crashed into off stump, and on the very next ball, Zampa trapped Senuran Muthusamy lbw for 0. In the space of just 12 deliveries, South Africa had lost four wickets for the addition of only three runs, leaving them in deep trouble at 123/7 after 16 overs.
South Africa innings after 16 overs
Ryan Rickelton remained the lone resistance with 48* off 40 balls (5 fours), but his task grew monumental with only the lower order for company. The scoreboard read:
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Aiden Markram (c) 12 (6)
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Ryan Rickelton (wk) 48* (40)
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Lhuan-dre Pretorius 14 (9)
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Dewald Brevis 2 (6)
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Tristan Stubbs 37 (27)
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George Linde 0 (3)
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Corbin Bosch 2 (4)
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Senuran Muthusamy 0 (1)
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Extras: 8 (b0, lb2, w6, nb0)
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Total: 123/7 in 16 overs
Fall of wickets: 12-1 (Markram, 0.6), 40-2 (Pretorius, 4.4), 48-3 (Brevis, 5.5), 120-4 (Stubbs, 14.3), 120-5 (Linde, 14.6), 123-6 (Bosch, 15.5), 123-7 (Muthusamy, 15.6)
Bowling figures:
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Josh Hazlewood: 3-0-18-3
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Glenn Maxwell: 4-0-29-1
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Ben Dwarshuis: 3-0-23-1
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Adam Zampa: 4-0-33-2
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Nathan Ellis: 2-0-18-0
With South Africa needing 56 runs from the last 24 balls, Hazlewood’s precision and Zampa’s guile had not only pegged them back but also left Australia firmly in the driver’s seat. The pressure was now squarely on Rickelton to pull off a miracle.
