betvisa888Australia all-rounder Ashton Agar’s hat-trick humble South Africa with their lowest T20I score

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Brief Scores
Australia 196-6 (20)

The highly anticipated series between Australia and South Africa finally gained momentum in the o♏pening T20I at Johannesburg on Friday.

ꦓThe packed Bull-Ring witnessed a fascinating batting effort from the🌌 visitors as they posted an above-par total of 196 on the scoreboard.

Commentators termed the Aussie batting inning as a peculiar one as൩ the dual nature of the pitch enabled the South Africans to chip in with 🐼wickets constantly, but the host never put the foot off the accelerator.

When captain Aaron Finch (42 off 27) a🔥nd Steve Smith (🦩45 off 32) were at the crease, the Kangaroos went above 11 runs per over, threatening to post 220+. They were assisted by the erratic line and lengths from the South African bowlers with plenty of wide deliveries (12 in total).

However, decent spells from Tabraiz Shamsi, Andil💙e Phehlukwayo, and Dale Steyn contained the expensive ones from Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, who gave away 82 runs iꦕn their cumulative six overs.

Well, the match-winning contribution came from Ashton Agar (20 off 9), who provided the much-needed impetus at the backend of the innings. Later, he went on to wreak havoc in the hosts’ batting effort with his maiden 5-wicket haul in internationals.

The Proteas middle-order was bamboozled with Agar’s hat-trick. First, taking the prized scalp of Faf du Plessis, and then Phehlukwayo and Steyn off the subsequent deliveries, becoming only the second Australian to scalp a T20I hat-trick, after Brett Lee.

The 26-year-old found ample support from Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins, who picked up a couple of wickets each as the visitors ran through the hosts’ line-up, giving the Aussies a thumping 107-run victory.

In the end, South African got bundled out for a paltry 89 within 15 overs as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series. The action now moves to Port El𝕴izabeth for the 2nd T20I on Sunday, February 23.

Zampa bowls Rabada | SA: 89
Rabada is out, bowled for 22 runs.
The Proteas lose the match as Australiꦗa takes a 1-0 lead in the 3 match series.
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA)