Australia beat South Africa by 21 runs in the rain-reduced T20I

In the rain-reduced Twenty20 international, South Africa beat Australia by 21-runs

In the rain-reduced Twenty20 international on the Gold Coast on Saturday, South Africa beat Australia by 21-runs. Speedster Chris Morris in his opening over claimed two crucial wickets of D'Arcy Short for a duck and Chris Lynn for 14.

The South Africans managed to easily protect their total of108 for six in 10 overs to restrict Australia to 87/7. For Australia, Glenn Maxwell scored the most with 38 off 23 balls, hitting two sixes.

After heavy rain prevented a scheduled start, the match was reduced to 10 overs a side. South Africa went into the T20 match after a 2-1 ODI series win over Australia.

“The bowlers once again stepped up and produced the goods. Picking up wickets in this format is always important because T20 is all about slogging,” skipper Faf du Plessis said.

“It ends a really good tour for us. We learnt a few lessons about the things that worked and didn’t work.

“Australia is a very tough place to tour and play cricket in, so to get a series win in both white-ball formats is a big achievement and we’ll go home with our heads held high.”

What made the difference in the game was the execution of the powerplays. While Australia could manage only 27, and lost their top three batsmen, South Africa smashed 42 runs, losing just the one wicket. Coulter-Nile claimed the wicket of Reeza Hendricks for 19.

The T20 is the start of four matches for Australia over the next week with three internationals against India.