South africa Loss 1st t20 By 5 Wickets

Australia beats South Africa

Australia pulled off a five-wicket win with three balls to spare against host South Africa in the first Twenty20 International here at Newlands on Thursday. 

Shane Watson led the run-chase with a 39-ball 52 with useful contributions from Shaun Marsh, David Hussey and Cameron White. 

Earlier, J-P Duminy hit a sparkling 67 to provide the backbone for a stuttering South African innings. South Africa made 146 for seven in its 20 overs. Patrick Cummins, 18, took three for 25 on his international debut, all three of his wickets coming off the last four balls of his four overs. 

The scores: South Africa: G. Smith b Bollinger 0, H. Amla (run out) 4, C. Ingram c Cummins b Pattinson 33, J-P. Duminy c Watson b Cummins 67, D. Miller c Warner b Cummins 20, J. Botha c White b Cummins 4, R. Peterson b Watson 6, H. Kuhn (not out) 1, J. Theron (not out) 0; Extras (lb-6, w-5): 11; Total (for 7 wkts, in 20 overs): 146. 

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-68, 4-133, 5-133, 6-136, 7-145. 

Australia bowling: Bollinger 4-0-23-1, Cummins 4-0-25-3, Watson 4-0-26-1, Pattinson 4-0-32-1, Hussey 3-0-25-0, O'Keefe 1-0-9-0. 

Australia: S. Watson c Miller b Morkel 52, D. Warner (run out) 0, S. Marsh b Botha 25, D. Hussey c Duminy b Tsotsobe 25, C. White c Miller b Peterson 28, S. Smith (not out) 8, M. Wade (not out) 1; Extras (lb-5, w-2, nb-1): 8; Total (for five wkts, in 19.3 overs): 147. 

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-83, 3-87, 4-127, 5-141. 

South Africa bowling: Tsotsobe 4-0-21-1, Morkel 4-0-24-1, Theron 3.3-0-42-0, Botha 4-0-22-1, Peterson 3-0-29-1, Duminy 1-0-4-0. 

Match Highlights