9.30pm So, that will do for tonight. Formidable from Australia, they really have built themselves quite the machine ahead of a home T20 World Cup. From Matt and myself, and Firdose (whose report will be right here), goodnight!
The player of the series is Aaron Finch. "It was nice with the new ball there and once the lights took effect it started to move nicely. When you have a left- and right-hand combination, if you can keep chipping away and stealing the ones, that rate goes up to 9,10 an over quickly. Wickets in the Powerplay are so crucial, if you can defend yourself well in the Powerplay that goes a long way. Huge credit to all the boys for buying into their roles."
The man of the match is Mitchell Starc: "I think it's been a pretty good job from all the bowlers, and things to keep improving on heading into October. They can kick on a bit if we don't get the powerplay wickets so QDK is a big one. We've got guys waiting in the wings and we've got plenty to build on. We've another T20 series in NZ, and as a group there's plenty of positives."
Quinton de Kock: "It's quite disappointing the way we lost, but we've got to keep our heads up. I still would rather have chased, but they were 20 runs above par. We need time in the middle for our players, this is our last T20 for a while, but when [the World Cup] comes closer we'll give it some thought. Australia are a tough competitive team. Hopefully we can get a series win [in the ODIs]."
9.18pm Shankar: "Nkwe shouldn't have asked to treat this as a world Cup final. Series decider itself was pressurizing enough :(" Well, maybe he was right to ... if the pressure of winning a series is that crushing, you clearly need to get used to pressure!
9.15pm Handshakes all round out in the middle. The teams will be back in action in the ODIs next week, but South Africa will need something special to lift them from that.
The Perplexed P: "The Proteas are in love with QdK! Once he's out of the contest, the rest wil follow ASAP! The Sorry story of the South Africans this series. No spine whatsoever when QdK's gone in chases. " It's hard to dispute. A total of nine runs in his two innings at Joburg and Newlands. And there wasn't a lot to come when he fell.
Jake: "Wow. The last 5 wickets cost only 9 runs in 17 balls. " Ouch
9.12pm So, make of that what you will. A 107-run defeat at Joburg, a 97-run defeat today. And somewhere, sandwiched between the two, South Africa eked out a 12-run win at Port Elizabeth. It's been a grim display from the hosts this evening, who have now been beaten in three of their four series this summer, despite a win in each of those, and despite taking each of the last three to a decider.
K Rabada lbw b Starc 5 (15m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00
END OF OVER:15 | 1 Run 2 Wkts | SA: 91/9 (103 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 6.06, RRR: 20.60)
- Tabraiz Shamsi1 (3b)
- Kagiso Rabada1 (2b)
- Ashton Agar4-0-16-3
- Mitchell Marsh1-0-3-1
Forecaster, for all you masochists out there, is 0.01%. You mean there's a chance?
So, Mr Shamsi, can you prevent Agar's second hat-trick of the series ...
L Ngidi b Agar 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
A Nortje lbw b Agar 2 (5m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
END OF OVER:14 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 90/7 (104 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 6.42, RRR: 17.33)
- Anrich Nortje2 (4b)
- Kagiso Rabada1 (2b)
- Mitchell Marsh1-0-3-1
- Pat Cummins3-0-27-1
Andrew Schulz: "You've got to wonder what you commentators are watching sometimes. That lbw was a hell of a lot plumber than 'thumping off stump'. Slightly more middle than off." To be honest, I stopped looking and started typing! ps ... hello you miseriguts!
Here's Nortje, the batting hero of the Centurion Test. What can he do from here?
Benji: "I will eat my shoes if Proteas win this year's t20 world cup!!!" I want photos
D Pretorius lbw b Marsh 11 (18m 9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 122.22
END OF OVER:13 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 87/6 (107 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 6.69, RRR: 15.28)
- Kagiso Rabada0 (1b)
- Dwaine Pretorius11 (8b)
- Pat Cummins3-0-27-1
- Adam Zampa3-0-10-2
DA Miller c Finch b Cummins 15 (24m 18b 0x4 0x6) SR: 83.33