RSA VS AUS - 2nd T20I, Australia tour of South Africa, 2020

18:12 CAT, just in case you've lost track: I can still spot an exaggerated Mexican wave in the crowd, as the celebrations sustain in the crowd! Bellies, Boerewors and Beer jumping up and down in the stands as South Africa see a ray of hope in the abyss of administrative and financial chaos. 1-1 and they march onto Cape Town - March, Cape Town, Australia, South Africa. Add to that a Warner filled with vengeance taking on a side led by de Kock. There's your screenplay submission to the Academy - releasing Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Until then, we bid you goodbye! *Curtains Down*

__________

Quinton de Kock | Man of the Match | RSA captain: I've realized that the new ball is key while batting. It gets difficult at the end so we capitalized on the powerplay. I know it's difficult to chase a target like this here and we knew that and we pulled it off. In international cricket we need to understand what needs to be done and I'm really proud of the boys. I think a couple of games before this our death bowling struggled, and we had a good chat, but the boys came out here and stuck to the plans to execute brilliantly. It'll be a good game, expecting a good wicket, so hopefully the boys come up there and perform well.

Aaron Finch | Australia captain: It's always exciting on a surface like that. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of it today. The way their bowlers brought it back was outstanding. Quinny played well, but we did well to stop the batsmen in the end. I think we just lacked the kick at the end of the chase. Pace off was the way to go, and we tried running hard, but Miller and co make it hard to take twos. If you don't get the balls where you want to in the powerplay, it's about making sure we rotate the strike, but we managed to get off to a flier. They bowled to a simple and effective plan. David didn't get much strike, but South Africa bowled beautifully despite the larger margin for error on such a surface. I think getting the winning feeling in the middle-order is important and I think this is an important game building up to the World Cup.

__________

1-1 | Port Elizabeth | 17:56 CAT: The crowd look possessed! Captain de Kock grins wider than the Joker today, as South Africa march onto Newlands for the decider. Finch and Warner were terrific upfront, and they looked like they'd take the game away. Smith and Warner looked the same way before a terrific catch by Faf sent the former on his way. A mini-collapse ensued followed by a breathtaking spell at the death, sounding the knell on the chokers' tag. A terrific effort from Warner, but the South Africans kept him shackled for boundaries today and made him run hard. Pure unadulterated joy at PE, as we await the presentations.

Nortje to Starc, 1 run, South Africa win! Nortje doesn't care what's happened to that ball: a full toss, that's tapped to point for a single and South Africa have aced the defence by 12 runs! 1-1, onwards and upwards to Newlands!

Nortje to Warner, leg byes, 1 run, full and fast on the pads, Warner has a swipe at it, gets it off the pads towards the on-side for a single

Nortje to Warner, no run, full and wide, Warner throws his hands at the drive to cover - and they haven't run! This is South Africa's game now!

Nortje to Starc, 1 run, is that slower? Looks like it, and Starc chops this short of length ball into his boot and they run across. Nortje doesn't throw at the non-striker's end fearing overthrows - rightly so

Mitchell Starc, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Nortje to Agar, out Bowled! Incredible from South Africa! Skids through from a back of a length and slides under the attempted pull to peg back off-stump, and Nortje is ecstatic! If that celebratory run was a run-up, the ball was certainly going to be 160km/h! What a time to get a maiden T20I wicket! He's pumped, and why not? Never say never when it's Australia, though. Agar b Nortje 1(5)

Nortje to Agar, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Nortje to Warner, 1 run, a skidder on good length, Warner backs away and slaps it away to sweeper cover for a single. He's off-strike, Warner!

Anrich Nortje [3.0-0-21-0] is back into the attack

17 required off the last over! South Africa are having a conference out at the center. If they can get Warner, no meeting required. Warner stands between South Africa and the series.

Rabada to Agar, no run, skids through, cramps him up, Agar has a swat into the on-side and that's thudded into his body and falls on the wicket. 17 required off the last over!

Rabada to Agar, wide, leg-side wide, and Rabada will be kicking himself mentally!

Rabada to Agar, no run, full and wide, Agar backs away and tries squeezing it to point, misses out! 18 off 7!

Rabada to Warner, 1 run, just a tad full on that yorker mission, slapped to cover for a single