Marsh, David power Australia to thumping victory

Australia registered a resounding victory in the first T20I against South Africa in Kingsmead, smashing the Proteas by 111 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Mitchell Marsh led from the front for the visitors on his T20I captaincy debut, smashing an unbeaten 92 and putting on a 97-run stand with Tim David to take Australia to 226/6. South Africa withered in response in the chase, with Tanveer Sangha taking four wickets on debut to skittle the hosts for 115 in 15.3 overs.

Marsh got Australia off to a scintillating start after Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl. Marco Jansen had Travis Head nicking off in the first over, but the skipper wasted no time in getting into his groove, smashing Lungi Ngidi for 20 runs in the second over. Marsh and debutant Matthew Short continued to put their foot on the pedal, taking the visitors to 68/1 in 4.3 overs before the Proteas temporarily pulled things back thanks to a wicket maiden from Gerald Coetzee to end the powerplay.

Lizaad Williams also bolstered South Africa’s position by dismissing Matthew Short and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession, reducing Australia to 77/4 after 7 overs. However, Mitchell Marsh and Tim David ensured that the visitors didn’t lose track for long, with the pair putting on a sensational stand of 97 from just 52 deliveries.

The new-look South African attack had no answers to the brute force of David and Marsh, with the former smashing three sixes against Tabraiz Shamsi and pummelling Gerald Coetzee for three boundaries in an over on his way to a 24-ball half-century. It took an astonishing catch from Temba Bavuma at the boundary to remove David, but there was no stopping Mitchell Marsh, who brought up a 22-ball fifty and carried his form throughout the innings, finishing with 92 off 49 balls to take Australia to an insurmountable total.

Chasing 227, the hosts lost Temba Bavuma for a duck in the first over to Marcus Stoinis and never recovered throughout their innings to make it a contest. Rassie van der Dussen mistimed to mid-off after a brisk start before debutant Jason Sangha ripped through the middle order. The leg-spinner had Aiden Markram cutting one to point before dismissing fellow debutant Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs in his next over as South Africa felt the pressure of the rising required rate.

Sangha also had Marco Jansen bowled to finish with figures of 4/31, while Stoinis added a pair of tail-enders to help Australia clinch a thumping victory by 111 runs in Durban.