Maxwell seals Australian series victory in Cairns thriller

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Maxwell seals Australian series victory in Cairns thriller

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How Maxwell powered Australia to T20 series-clinching win

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell produced an unbeaten half-century in a tense chase to help the hosts edge out South Africa by two wickets in the third and final Twenty20 International and complete a 2-1 series victory in Cairns on Saturday.

Maxwell’s unbeaten 62 off 36 balls helped Australia chase down a 173-run target with one ball to spare in a thrilling decider at the Cazalys Stadium.

After 18 overs of their innings, it was a run-a-ball target for Australia with Maxwell in the middle.

South African Corbin Bosch (3-26) claimed two wickets in the penultimate over and kept Maxwell away from the strike.

Glenn Maxwell was in fine form for the series decider.

Glenn Maxwell was in fine form for the series decider.Credit: Getty Images

Needing 10 off the last over from Lungi Ngidi, Maxwell took six from the first four balls before reverse sweeping the bowler for a four to seal Australia’s dramatic victory.

“It was a little bit nerve-wracking,” Maxwell said after being judged player of the match. “I probably had to do the majority of the striking but, yeah, it was nice to get a couple out of the middle right near the end.”

Earlier, put in to bat, South Africa overcame a top order wobble to post a competitive 172-7 with Dewald Brevis (53) top-scoring for them.

The tourists were 49-3 inside seven overs but Brevis looked unfazed and hit Aaron Hardie for four sixes in an over, throwing the pacer out of the attack.

Brevis raced to a 22-ball fifty but Maxwell took a brilliant running catch near the rope to dismiss him off the bowling of Nathan Ellis (3-31).

Tristan Stubbs contributed 25 and Rassie van der Dussen made 38 not out down the order but South Africa still fell short of the 175-mark.

Skipper Mitchell Marsh (54) led Australia’s robust reply, dominating his 66-run opening stand with Travis Head (19).

Kagiso Rabada floored a return catch from Marsh when the batter was on 26 and Aiden Markram gave a similar reprieve to Head off his own bowling.

Head could not capitalise on it though and fell to Markram in the same over.

Bosch bowled Josh Inglis for a first ball duck before South Africa’s teenaged left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka dismissed Marsh and Cameron Green (nine) in the same over to turn the match on its head.

Rabada also produced a two-wicket over, dismissing Tim David and Hardie but Maxwell stayed calm to guide Australia home.

The three-match one-day international series between the sides begins in Cairns on Tuesday.

The Australian team celebrate after winning the T20 International series against South Africa.

The Australian team celebrate after winning the T20 International series against South Africa.Credit: Getty Images

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Maxwell speaks after saving the series for Australia

Glenn Maxwell on his saviour act:

“It was a little bit nerve-wracking. I knew I had to do the majority of the striking, but it was nice to get a couple out of the middle near the end. Just stay calm, watch the ball and try not to pre-empt too much.

Glenn Maxwell saved Australia.

Glenn Maxwell saved Australia.Credit: Getty Images

“We’ve had a great run with this T20 group so to have another win against South Africa is great for this group. It’s a fun change room to be in.”

Tim David is player of the series - must have been a close call with Dewald Brevis.

“It’s always nice to win the close ones in T20 cricket,” captain Marsh says. “[Maxwell] is a world-class player, he’s been so flexible, he’s batted in three different positions in the series.”

Can Maxwell do it? Yes he can

Australia 8-174 beat South Africa by two wickets

Maxwell gets plenty from the first ball, but Bosch saves a boundary by running around superbly from long-on - eight to win from five balls.

Next ball is fuller and Maxwell scythes it through cover for four. Four to win from four balls.

Two dot balls make it four to win from two balls - Maxwell not taking singles.

Then Ngidi bowls a full toss and Maxwell reverses it to the boundary over third. The crowd in Cairns goes wild and the Australians breathe a sigh of relief. Maxwell has saved Marsh’s men.

Maxwell and Zampa celebrate the win with gusto - they have played a lot together and want another crack at the T20 World Cup next year.

Dwarshuis loses his head, Ellis goes first ball

Wicket! Wicket! Australia 8-163 chasing 173

All Dwarshuis needs to do is take a single to get Maxwell on strike, but instead he goes for an ambitious heave at Bosch and loses his stumps.

Australia still need 10 from nine balls as Ellis comes to the crease, and he departs first ball, edging behind - Rickelton takes a good catch.

Zampa keeps out the hat-trick ball and they don’t take a single from the last. Maxwell must make 10 from the final over.

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Rabada’s accidental beamer is punished

Australia 6-161 chasing 173

Oh dear. Rabada loses grip of the greasy ball and delivers a full toss over Maxwell’s head, which is an automatic no ball.

The free hit is another full toss and Maxwell swipes it into the crowd at midwicket.

After a dot ball, Rabada goes for a slower short ball and Maxwell deftly cuffs it to the boundary at third. A single takes Maxwell to 50 from 30 balls, a much-needed innings for him and for Australia.

That over cost 15, so just 12 needed from the last two overs.

Bosch’s excellent over to Maxwell

Australia 6-146 chasing 173

Bosch has some success keeping Maxwell quiet with wide full balls, before a shorter one is cut behind point for a couple.

Another yorker nutmegs Maxwell but also misses leg stump. Just four from the over 27 needed from three overs.

Maxwell controlling proceedings

Australia 6-142 chasing 173

Maxwell and Dwarshuis trade singles, before Ngidi gives Maxwell a slower ball and it’s reversed over third for a boundary.

A two and a single keep Maxwell on strike, 31 now needed from four overs.

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Maxwell hooks a six

Australia 6-133 chasing 173

Maxwell is now key to the chase, and after a miscued boundary first ball, he declines a couple of singles to bring Dwarshuis on strike before crushing a hook shot for six.

He takes a single last ball, Australia need 40 runs from the final five overs.

David, Hardie quickly out to Rabada

Wicket! Wicket! Australia 6-12 chasing 173

Rabada comes back and with a full ball he prompts a mistimed shot from David and a return catch.

Hardie and Maxwell both look uncomfortable against Rabada’s speed and class, and the former chips a lollipop catch to long-on.

Fifty-one runs from 36 balls is eminently gettable but the wickets are running out.

David survives a tough chance on the boundary

Australia 4-120 chasing 173

Maxwell and David aren’t pushing too much too, soon, they know the target is well within reach should they get into a batting rhythm.

As I write that, David swings lustily at Bosch and the inside half of the bat gets the ball over the boundary behind square. Next ball David goes for a six and it gets there just - through the hands of Stubbs at long on.

That miss is a big one for the game and the series.

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