Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 Australia's Aaron Finch celebrates his half century with David Warner REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
A 120-run opening partnership between captain Aaron Finch and David Warner laid the platform for an emphatic 97-run victory for Australia over South Africa on Wednesday to win the Twenty20 series 2-1.
Australia were put into bat and made the most of a dry surface as they scored 193 for five before bowling out their hosts for 96.
Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 South Africa's Pite van Biljon is bowled out by Australia's Adam Zampa REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
It secured a 2-1 series triumph for the touring side who will host the T20 World Cup later this year.
Australia spinner Adam Zampa took two wickets and two difficult catches as South Africa faltered early in their run chase and were bowled out in the 16th over.
Australia raced to 75 off the first six overs and reached a 100 inside the opening nine overs. Finch took 28 balls to get his 50 and Warner only 30 balls for his half-century.
Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 Australia's Adam Zampa celebrates with Steve Smith and teammates after taking the catch to dismiss South Africa's Faf du Plessis REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
They continued to 120 off 69 balls before Warner holed out to David Miller at mid-wicket off the bowling of Anrich Nortje. Warner’s 57 runs came off 37 balls.
Finch (55 runs off 37) was trapped lbw by spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, dropping to one knee to try and hit the ball over short fine leg but struck on the thigh.
The wickets stemmed the run flow as South Africa looked to get themselves into the match, their bowlers conceding only 31 between overs 11-15 and helped by Australia experimenting with Steve Smith dropping down the batting order.
Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa's David Miller with Aaron Finch REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
When he eventually came in at number five near, he scored 30 runs off 15 balls, although he was bowled by Kagiso Rabada when on six but called back to the crease when it proved to be a no-ball.
Home skipper Quinton de Kock, so often the talisman for his team, was bowled by Mitchell Starc (3-22) in the first over of the reply and the home side lost a steady procession of batsmen.
Zampa’s catches to see off Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen proved crucial and he bowled Heinrich Klaasen to finish with 2-10.
Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa's Quinton de Kock REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
When the hard-hitting Miller fell with the score on 87-6, the contest was effectively over.
Ashton Agar, who took a hat-trick in the first match of the series in Johannesburg, came close again with successive wickets but Shamsi kept the next ball out.
Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen is bowled out by Australia's Adam Zampa REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
Cricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa's David Miller with Aaron Finch REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 Australia's Aaron Finch and David Warner in action REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 South Africa's David Miller attempts to run out Australia's Mitchell Marsh REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v Australia - Third T20 - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa - February 26, 2020 South Africa's Kagiso Rabada attempts to block the ball off a hit from Australia's Steve Smith REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
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