Glenn Maxwell produced a match-winning finish in Cairns, smashing an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls to guide Australia to a thrilling two-wicket win in the series decider against South Africa. Chasing 173, the hosts slipped to 122/6, but Maxwell’s calculated counterattack saw them home with a delivery to spare, sealing the series 2-1.
Mitchell Marsh gave Australia the early push with a six each off Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, and a boundary against Kwena Maphaka. Travis Head joined in with two fours off Maphaka before Marsh survived a return chance off Rabada and capitalised with a pick-up six in the same over. Head added another boundary off Ngidi as Australia reached 52 at the end of the powerplay.
Marsh’s assault continued with two sixes in Senuran Muthusamy’s opening over, but Head’s scratchy stay ended on 19 when he top-edged a sweep off Aiden Markram. Corbin Bosch then struck in his first over, skidding one through to bowl Josh Inglis for a golden duck. Marsh carried on, reaching a 35-ball half-century with a swept six off Muthusamy to keep the chase steady at 82/2 after 10 overs.
South Africa, however, clawed back. Maphaka dismissed Marsh with a well-directed short ball before removing Cameron Green in the same over. Glenn Maxwell provided a quick counter with boundaries off Maphaka and Ngidi, but wickets continued to fall. Tim David’s brisk cameo ended with a return catch to Rabada, while Aaron Hardie fell trying to clear long-on, leaving Australia precariously placed at 122/6.
Maxwell, though, took charge. He smashed Maphaka for a four and six, then targeted Rabada in the 18th over with a six and a four en route to a 30-ball fifty. Australia needed 13 off the last two overs, but Bosch lifted South Africa again, removing Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis while conceding just two runs. With 10 required off the final over, Maxwell held his nerve, collecting a couple first up, carving Ngidi through point for four, and sealing the win in audacious fashion with a reverse-hit boundary.
Earlier, South Africa’s innings revolved around Dewald Brevis, who blazed his way to a 26-ball 53. After Markram fell in the first over to Hazlewood, Lhuan-dre Pretorius provided early impetus before Nathan Ellis struck. Adam Zampa removed Ryan Rickelton to leave South Africa at 50/3, but Brevis counterattacked, racing to a 22-ball fifty – the fastest by a South African in T20Is, going past his own record – and hammering four sixes in an over off Aaron Hardie.
Ellis returned to dismiss Brevis with a slower bouncer, sparking a slide. Stubbs was bowled by Zampa, Bosch holed out off Hazlewood, and the visitors slipped from 110/3 to 138/6. Rassie van der Dussen’s late boundaries and useful hits from Muthusamy and Rabada lifted them to 172/7, which ultimately proved just short against Maxwell’s finishing brilliance.
Brief scores: South Africa 172/7 in 20 overs (Dewald Brevis 53, Rassie van der Dussen 38*; Nathan Ellis 3-31, Adam Zampa 2-24) lost to Australia 173/8 in 19.5 overs (Glenn Maxwell 62*, Mitchell Marsh 54; Corbin Bosch 3-26, Kagiso Rabada 2-32) by 2 wickets.
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