South Africa v Australia
Wisden's review of the third Twenty20 International, South Africa v Australia
15-Apr-2017
At Cape Town, March 9, 2016 (floodlit). Australia won by six wickets. Toss: South Africa.
Amla's unbeaten 97, a career-best, helped South Africa reach the second-highest T20 total at Newlands, but Australia beat it to clinch the series. They always seemed in control of the askingrate: Watson was ruthless in the powerplay and Steve Smith dominated the middle overs. Though he had a strike-rate of 156, Amla did miss a number of scoring opportunities as fatigue set in. Zampa, the 23-year-old leg-spinner, demonstrated outstanding control and an apparent ability to predict batsmen's movements. Khawaja and Watson opened with 76 at more than nine an over, before South Africa's leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, had both caught within four deliveries. But Smith was unperturbed, allowing Warner to play within himself - and a straightforward victory was wrapped up by Maxwell. A squirrel had wandered about the outfield for most of South Africa's innings, resisting attempts to lure it off with a trail of nuts.
Man of the Match: H. M. Amla. Man of the Series: D. A. Warner.
Amla's unbeaten 97, a career-best, helped South Africa reach the second-highest T20 total at Newlands, but Australia beat it to clinch the series. They always seemed in control of the askingrate: Watson was ruthless in the powerplay and Steve Smith dominated the middle overs. Though he had a strike-rate of 156, Amla did miss a number of scoring opportunities as fatigue set in. Zampa, the 23-year-old leg-spinner, demonstrated outstanding control and an apparent ability to predict batsmen's movements. Khawaja and Watson opened with 76 at more than nine an over, before South Africa's leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, had both caught within four deliveries. But Smith was unperturbed, allowing Warner to play within himself - and a straightforward victory was wrapped up by Maxwell. A squirrel had wandered about the outfield for most of South Africa's innings, resisting attempts to lure it off with a trail of nuts.
Man of the Match: H. M. Amla. Man of the Series: D. A. Warner.