A record stand from David Warner and Glenn Maxwell helped Australia secure a last-ball, five-wicket victory over South Africa in the second Twenty20 International at The Wanderers yesterday.
South Africa posted 204 for seven on a flat batting wicket and were on top when they reduced the tourists to 32-3 in their reply.
Yet Warner (77 from 40 balls) and Maxwell (75 from 43) staged a remarkable fightback with a Twenty20 Australian record partnership for any wicket of 161 to take their side close to victory. Needing two from the final delivery of the innings from seamer Kagiso Rabada, Australia’s Mitchell Marsh bludgeoned the ball down the ground and was able to scramble the runs his side needed to level the three-game series at 1-1.
Warner and Maxwell’s stand fell just short of the world record of 171 set by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill against Pakistan in January.
The pair were particularly severe on leg-spinner Imran Tahir and seamer David Wiese, who went for 105 in their combined eight overs.
The only consolation for South Africa was the successful return of fast bowler Dale Steyn (2-32 from four overs), who is trying to prove his fitness ahead of the World Twenty20 in India, which starts on Tuesday.
The home side’s innings was anchored by Faf du Plessis, who smashed 79 from 41 balls, with fine cameos from Quinton de Kock (44) and David Miller (33).
James Faulkner proved the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3-28 from his four overs.
“They batted with great composure and played some great cricket shots,” said Australian captain Steve Smith.
“They summed up the situation really well.”
South African captain Faf du Plessis admitted: “That partnership blew us away.”
Du Plessis added: “There are small margins when two teams are playing good cricket. There were one or two things in the field that we could have done better. Two full tosses towards the end cost us.”
The final match of the three-game series will be played in Cape Town on Wednesday.