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Scorecard Summary
AUSTRALIA 196/6 (20 OVERS)
- Aaron Finch42 (27)
- Steven Smith45 (32)
- Dale Steyn2/31 (4)
- Tabraiz Shamsi2/31 (4)
SOUTH AFRICA 89 (14.3 OVERS)
- Faf du Plessis24 (22)
- Kagiso Rabada22 (19)
- Adam Zampa2/9 (2.3)
- Ashton Agar5/24 (4)
Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Alan Gardner
9.25pm: Well, the series has started with a bang, all right! Australia's women may have slipped on day one of the Women's T20 World Cup, but the men have handed out a right royal pasting in Johannesburg, as they sharpen their own tournament planning. Anyway, Firdose's report will have the long and the short of it (very short in the case of South Africa's innings) and we'll be back for more from Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Thanks for chipping in, from Matt, Ranjith and myself, it's good night and good luck. Bye!
9.15pm: Time for the presentations, starting with South Africa captain Quinton de Kock: "Not too sure what happened there [with the bowling], the energy was there but the skills weren't good enough tonight. We pride ourselves on our fielding and tonight we weren't at our best. But as long as we get up tomorrow and try and fight for the next game. We can't do much at practice, it's more of a mental thing, we have to come out with that fight on Sunday."
Ashton Agar is Man of the Match: "It was really exciting, the highlight of my cricketing life. My job is made a lot easier when I have Mitch, Patty Cummins, Richo and Zamps doing the job before me. [Starc new ball?] To have a guy steaming in and putting the ball down at 150kph, it puts fear in the opposition. Starting well is important in T20 and that's what we did today. Unbelievable catch [from Finch for the hat-trick], great team performance."
Australia captain Aaron Finch: [Great game] "Absolutely, it was, we set the tone in the field, took a couple of sharp chances and Ashton bowled really well, all round a good performance. When you're chasing 200, you have to get off to a good start, but Starcy bowling Quinton with a beauty, it puts you on the back foot. But I would have batted second, too, so it was a good toss to lose. The way we attacked the crease and bowled a good aggressive length was really impressive. Not letting them get away and put us on the back foot. [Hat-trick ball] There's about 10% chance of me catching that. He bowled beautifully today and deserved it."
9.05pm: Oh dear, that is a sorry mess for the Saffers: their lowest T20 international total, their biggest T20I defeat. Australia have steamrolled their way to victory here at the Wanderers, where after all the talk of having to brave a storm on their return to South Africa, it is the hosts who have been roughed up. Eighth T20I win in a row for Finch's side, and it really does look like they are building well towards the World Cup on home soil later this year. Everyone chipped in with the bat, and then Ashton Agar proved himself worthy of the Dre Russ bantz by ripping through South Africa, with only the second hat-trick by an Australian in T20Is!
K Rabada b Zampa 22 (26m 19b 1x4 2x6) SR: 115.78
Adam Zampa back... can he draw a line under things? SA still shy of their lowest T20I score
END OF OVER:14 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 87/9 (110 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 6.21, RRR: 18.33)
- Tabraiz Shamsi1 (3b)
- Kagiso Rabada21 (17b)
- Ashton Agar4-0-24-5
- Kane Richardson3-0-20-0
Best figures by an Australian in T20Is, notes Matt
Match Coverage
All Match News'Agar can barely believe it, he's king of the 'ring!'
Ball-by-ball commentary of Ashton Agar's hat-trick and five-wicket haul in Johannesburg
'Now is the time for players to put their hands up' - Mark Boucher
South Africa coach admits the management are still searching for their best XI in T20
Jadeja-inspired Ashton Agar felt 'horrible' in training before hat-trick, five-for
Left-arm spinner encouraged by partnership with Adam Zampa after record figures in Johannesburg
Ashton Agar hat-trick, five-for sends South Africa to record defeat
South Africa fell to their lowest T20I total as Ashton Agar ripped through them at the Wanderers
'If something ignites...' Quinton de Kock, David Warner ready for on-field reunion
Australia batsman plays down chance of flash points but asks for "respect" from South African crowds