South Africa made an explosive start in the first T20I at Darwin after captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to field, reducing Australia to 30/3 inside the first four overs.
Kagiso Rabada removed Travis Head for 2, caught by Kwena Maphaka at short third man. George Linde then dismissed Josh Inglis for a golden duck, taken by Senuran Muthusamy at backward point. Rabada struck again to send Mitchell Marsh back for 13, with Maphaka completing a superb running catch in the deep — his second of the innings.
With Australia reeling, Cameron Green and Tim David began a counterattack that peaked in the fifth over when Corbin Bosch was introduced into the attack for the first time.
Breakdown of Bosch’s over (5th over):
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Ball 1: David drives through extra cover for four. (4 runs)
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Ball 2: Green takes a single to mid-wicket. (1 run)
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Ball 3: Green launches a good length ball straight down the ground for six. (6 runs)
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Ball 4: Dot ball to David, defended back to the bowler. (0 runs)
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Ball 5: David flicks over deep square leg for six. (6 runs)
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Ball 6: Green finishes with a single to long-on. (1 run)
Bosch’s first over went for 18 runs, changing the momentum of the match. Australia moved from 30/3 after four overs to 60/3 at the end of the fifth, with Green on 25 off 8 balls and David on 18 off 7, swinging the pressure back onto South Africa.
