Head 91 powers Australia to 3-0 clean sweep over South Africa

Australia completed a 3-0 series clean sweep with another thumping victory over South Africa in the third T20I at Kingsmead. The Proteas produced their best batting effort of the series to post 190 in their innings, but Travis Head’s sublime 48-ball 91 rounded out Australia’s dominance in Durban, taking the visitors home with five wickets and 13 balls to spare.

The Proteas endured two chastening losses heading into the final T20I of the series and suffered another false start on Sunday after winning the toss and opting to bat. Marcus Stoinis struck twice with the new ball, removing Temba Bavuma for his second golden duck of the series before dismissing debutant Matthew Breetzke with a short-of-a-length delivery in his next over.

Aiden Markram rescued the hosts with a half-century stand alongside Reeza Hendricks, but the skipper couldn’t make his excellent start count, holing out to cover against Sean Abbott after a well-made 23-ball 41. Hendricks took over the scoring responsibilities after Markram’s dismissal, carting a pair of sixes to take the Proteas to 98/3 at the halfway stage.

Australia hit back by taking three wickets in quick succession to skittle South Africa to 122/6 in 14 overs, but Donavan Ferrerira announced his arrival on the international stage with a sensational debut outing. Ferreira struck five sixes in his power-packed cameo of 48 from 21 deliveries, helping the Proteas score 52 in their last four overs to finish with a promising total of 190/8.

South Africa carried that momentum into their bowling innings as Aiden Markram dismissed Matthew Short off the first ball of the chase, pinning the opener on his pads. Mitchell Marsh got off to another quick start, crashing three consecutive fours off Lizaad Williams, but was finally dismissed for the first time this series by Coetzee in the fourth over.

Despite losing two early wickets, Australia kept their foot on the pedal as Travis Head blazed his way to 38 off 18 in the powerplay, taking on Lungi Ngidi and Lizaad Williams for a flurry of boundaries. The left-hander also went after the spinners through the middle overs alongside Josh Inglis to put Australia on course for victory, taking the visitors to 117/2 at the halfway stage.

Inglis departed for 42 after holing out in the deep against Fortuin, but there was no respite for the Proteas. Head continued his onslaught to finish with 91 off just 48 deliveries, while Stoinis finished the game off with a scintillating 37 off 21 balls to complete a resounding clean sweep for Mitchell Marsh’s side.