Australia vs South Africa Highlights: Australia beat South Africa in a thrilling T20I encounter, posting a competitive total of 178 runs in their 20 overs. The visitors were propelled by Tim David’s outstanding 83 off 52 balls, featuring four boundaries and eight sixes, which rescued Australia from early wickets and set a challenging target.
South Africa in Australia, 3 T20I Series, 2025
Australia
178 (20.0)
South Africa
161/9 (20.0)
Match Ended ( Day – 1st T20I )
Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs
Kwena Maphak took 4 wicktes
South Africa’s bowling effort was led by Kwena Maphaka, who took four wickets for 20 runs, becoming the youngest pace bowler among full member nations to achieve a four-wicket haul in a T20I. Maphaka’s spell was crucial in breaking the Australian batting momentum after David’s innings.
David’s Power-Hitting helped Australia win
Australia’s innings saw aggressive starts from Cameron Green, who scored 35 off 13 balls with four fours and three sixes, and quick contributions from Mitchell Marsh and Ben Dwarshuis. However, Maphaka’s incisive bowling dismantled the middle and lower order. Nathan Ellis and Dwarshuis provided valuable runs in the final overs to help Australia reach 178.
Chasing 179, South Africa began cautiously but lost early wickets, including captain Aiden Markram for 12 runs. Ryan Rickelton stood firm with a fighting 71 off 55 balls, supported by useful runs from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Tristan Stubbs. Despite Rickelton’s effort, South Africa’s innings faltered under pressure.
Australia’s bowling attack, led by Josh Hazlewood with three wickets for 27 runs, applied consistent pressure on the South African batsmen. Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, and Adam Zampa also contributed with key wickets, restricting South Africa to 161 for 9 by the end of their 20 overs.
The match highlighted powerful hitting and tight bowling from both sides, but Australia’s higher total and crucial breakthroughs with the ball gave them the edge in this closely fought contest. South Africa now faces an uphill task to chase down the target in the remaining overs.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Dwarshuis to Rickelton, OUT
An extraordinary catch by Maxwell at long-on! The fielder makes it look effortless, ending Rickelton’s impressive innings.
Ryan Rickelton c Maxwell b Dwarshuis 70 (55b 7x4 1x6) SR: 127.27
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: SA need 16 runs to win
End of over 19 brings 16 runs for South Africa, pushing the score to 158 for 7. The chase heats up with a required run rate soaring to 21.00 as South Africa needs 21 runs from the last 6 balls. Ryan Rickelton is on fire with 72 runs off 54 balls, including seven fours and one six. Kagiso Rabada remains unbeaten on 8 from 4 deliveries, having hit one six. Nathan Ellis has bowled 4 overs conceding 44 runs without wickets, while Josh Hazlewood has been impressive with figures of 4 overs, 27 runs, and 3 wickets.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Need 35 from 12b
End of over 18 sees South Africa at 144 for 7, adding 11 runs in the over. The current chase has a required run rate of 17.50, with 35 runs needed off the final 12 balls. Ryan Rickelton remains at the crease on 59 runs from 48 balls, including five fours and one six. Kagiso Rabada is on 8 runs from 4 balls, featuring one six. Josh Hazlewood continues his excellent bowling figures with 4 overs, 29 runs, and 3 wickets, while Nathan Ellis has bowled 3 overs, conceding 28 runs without taking a wicket.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Six over deep midwicket
At 17.2 overs, Josh Hazlewood delivers a 135kph ball right in the slot, and Ryan Rickelton responds with a powerful clubbed six over deep midwicket. The clean, high shot showcases Rickelton’s strong timing and aggressive intent.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Six
Nathan Ellis bowls a short ball at 124kph to Kagiso Rabada, who unleashes a powerful pull shot flat over deep midwicket for six runs. The well-timed strike adds crucial runs to South Africa’s total.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Quicker Ball Skids Through, Hits Off Stump
Adam Zampa struck a crucial blow for Australia by clean bowling Corbin Bosch. The delivery was quicker and pitched just a touch fuller, deceiving Bosch as he attempted a cut shot. The ball skidded through the crease and crashed into the off stump, leaving Bosch dismissed for 2 runs off 4 balls. This wicket added pressure on South Africa as they looked to build their innings.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Hazlewood Strikes Again, Linde Caught at Slip
George Linde was caught at slip off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. The dismissal showcased excellent bowling and sharp captaincy. Linde scored no runs off three balls before getting out.
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Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Tristan Stubbs Out for 37 Off 27 Balls
Tristan Stubbs was dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. The batsman offered a bottom edge that was comfortably taken by the wicketkeeper Inglis. Stubbs scored 37 runs from 27 balls, hitting five fours in his innings. His dismissal came at a crucial stage as South Africa looked to maintain momentum in the chase.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Zampa to Stubbs, FOUR runs
Stubbs smears the ball just wide of long-on! Tossed up too full, he clears the front leg and heaves it with a flat shot wide of Green, who was sprinting in from long-on. The ball pitched just short of the rope.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: End of over 12
At the end of over 12, South Africa added 11 runs to reach 96 for 3. The current run rate stands at 8.00, while the required run rate is 10.37 with 83 runs needed from 48 balls. Tristan Stubbs is batting well on 25 off 20 balls with 3 fours, and Ryan Rickelton is steady at 35 off 31 balls with 4 fours. Nathan Ellis has bowled 2 overs conceding 18 runs without a wicket, while Ben Dwarshuis has bowled 3 overs, giving away 23 runs and taking 1 wicket.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Four
Nathan Ellis bowls to Tristan Stubbs, who plays a neat shot for four runs, adding valuable runs to South Africa’s total.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: End of over 10
At the end of the tenth over, South Africa reached 78 for 3, adding 9 runs in the over. Ryan Rickelton continued his steady innings with 30 runs off 27 balls, hitting four boundaries. Tristan Stubbs supported well with 13 runs from 12 deliveries, including one boundary. Adam Zampa bowled his second over, conceding 17 runs without taking a wicket. Nathan Ellis has bowled one over so far, giving away 7 runs. South Africa now needs 101 runs from the remaining 60 balls, with the required run rate climbing to 10.10.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: End of over 9
At the end of nine overs, South Africa stood at 69 for 3, needing 110 runs from 66 balls. Ryan Rickelton continued to lead the charge with 28 runs off 24 balls, including four boundaries. Tristan Stubbs contributed 6 runs from 9 deliveries. Nathan Ellis bowled a tidy over conceding 7 runs, while Adam Zampa’s figures remained unchanged at 1 over for 8 runs. The required run rate has now increased to 10, putting pressure on the batsmen as the chase progresses.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: End of 8 overs
South Africa reached 62 for 3 at the end of eight overs, needing 117 runs from the remaining 72 balls. Ryan Rickelton anchored the innings with 23 off 21 balls, while Tristan Stubbs was on 4 from 6 deliveries. Adam Zampa’s lone over went for eight runs, while Glenn Maxwell maintained pressure earlier with figures of 3-0-19-1. With the required run rate climbing to 9.75, the chase remains finely balanced.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: South Africa Three Down in the Chase
At the end of seven overs, South Africa are 54 for 3, scoring 6 runs in the over. Ryan Rickelton is steady on 17 off 18 balls with two boundaries, while Tristan Stubbs has 2 from 3 deliveries. Glenn Maxwell has bowled tightly with figures of 3-0-19-1, and Ben Dwarshuis has 1 for 17 from his 2 overs. The chase now requires 125 runs from 78 balls at a required rate of 9.61.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Wide and Stumping Attempt from Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell drifted one down the leg side to Ryan Rickelton, earning a wide. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis attempted a stumping, but Rickelton got back in time.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Dwarshuis Strikes to Remove Brevis
Ben Dwarshuis dismissed Dewald Brevis for just 2 off 6 balls, with no boundaries. Brevis miscued his shot and was caught by substitute fielder SA Abbott, leaving South Africa under pressure.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Maxwell Strikes to Remove Pretorius
The tactic paid off for Australia as Glenn Maxwell lured Lhuan-dre Pretorius into an inside-out drive over cover. Pretorius gave himself room but picked out Owen at wide long-off, who barely had to move to complete the catch.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Rickelton Survives Close Call
Facing Ben Dwarshuis, Ryan Rickelton tapped a length delivery outside off towards point and set off for a quick single. Glenn Maxwell, sprinting around from point, had a shy at the stumps, and a direct hit would have caught Rickelton short. Instead, he safely picked up one run.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Pretorius Keeps Momentum After Early Setback
South Africa continued their brisk start despite the early wicket, adding 11 runs in the second over. Lhuan-dre Pretorius wasted no time, striking a boundary in his quick 9 off just 3 balls, while Ryan Rickelton got off the mark cautiously. Glenn Maxwell’s over went for 10 runs, keeping the chase on track at a healthy run rate. The hosts now require 156 from 108 balls at 8.66 runs per over.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Early Breakthrough for Australia
South Africa’s chase began with intent but also an early setback, reaching 12 for 1 after the first over. Josh Hazlewood struck in his opening spell, conceding 12 runs but claiming the crucial first wicket. The hosts now require 167 runs from 114 balls at a required run rate of 8.78, with Ryan Rickelton yet to face a delivery.
South Africa bowled out Australia for the first time in a T20 International, with 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka producing a stunning spell. The young pacer became the youngest from a full member nation to take four wickets in a T20I, returning figures of 4 for 20.
Australia’s aggressive approach after early wickets backfired, leading to a collapse. Tim David offered strong resistance with a brilliant 83 off 52 balls, while Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis added valuable runs late in the innings. With no previous T20I data for this venue, it remains uncertain if Australia’s total of 178 will be competitive.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: What Tim David said...
Tim David: "It felt a little bit two paced. And then the dew came in late in the innings so hopefully it doesn't get too wet when we bowl. I felt the pitch was inconsistent. If we bowl well it should be enough but it will be interesting with the dew."
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: SA need 179 to win
Australia posted 178 all out in their 20 overs against South Africa, with Tim David producing a sensational 83 off 52 balls to anchor the innings after a shaky start. His knock, laced with four fours and eight towering sixes, rescued the visitors from early trouble and gave them a competitive total in the T20 clash.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Ellis Clears the Ropes with Lofted Straight Six
On the penultimate ball of the innings, Nathan Ellis showcased clean hitting by lofting Corbin Bosch straight down the ground for a maximum. The ball sailed high and far, comfortably clearing the sightscreen.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: High Full Toss Called No-Ball by Umpire
Corbin Bosch delivered a high full toss to Nathan Ellis, which was immediately deemed illegal by the umpire. The ball sailed over Ellis’s waist height without bouncing, resulting in a no-ball call.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Maphaka Strikes Again, Removes Zampa for Just 1
A short delivery aimed at the hip from Kwena Maphaka proved too tempting for Adam Zampa. The Australian tailender flicked it aerially toward backward square, but Dewald Brevis timed his run perfectly to take a clean catch.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Maphaka to David — OUT
Tim David’s blistering knock comes to an end! He tries to clear the ropes once again, but finds Stubbs in the deep. A superb innings of 83 off 52 balls, studded with 4 fours and 8 towering sixes, ends with a strike rate of 159.61.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: Rabada to Ellis — No Ball Lifeline!
Ellis miscues to deep square leg, but Rabada oversteps. What looked like a simple catch turns into a reprieve for Australia.
Australia vs South Africa LIVE Cricket Score: End of Over 17 – Australia Steady Through David’s Brilliance
Australia reach 158/7 at the end of the 17th over, scoring 9 runs off it. Tim David continues to be the star of the innings, unbeaten on 78 off 45 balls with 3 fours and 8 sixes, holding the innings together after early setbacks. Nathan Ellis is on 1 off 1 ball at the other end, providing support.
For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi has bowled 3 overs for 34 runs with 1 wicket, while Senuran Muthusamy finishes his spell with excellent figures of 4-0-24-1, keeping the pressure on in the middle overs.