Australia have secured a 3-0 T20 clean sweep over South Africa after a Travis Head onslaught inspired them to a five-wicket win in the series finale in Durban.
In reply to South Africa’s 8-190 on Sunday at Kingsmead, Head thumped a career-high 91 off 48 balls to help lift Australia to victory with 13 balls to spare.
Josh Inglis (42 off 22 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (37no off 21) joined in on the fun, but it was Head who was the unstoppable force for most of the innings.
Head, whose previous highest score in a T20I was 48no, cracked six sixes and eight fours in his blistering knock.
He was given a life on 55 when Temba Bavuma dropped a tough diving attempt.
Bavuma eventually got his man with a catch in the deep, but Australia only needed five more runs for victory by that stage.
Head had posted scores of just 18 and six in the first two matches, and his display on Sunday is an ominous warning for South Africa ahead of the upcoming five-match ODI series, starting on September 7.
(Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
“It’s nice to be back and contributing,” Head told Fox Cricket.
“There’s been limited opportunities in this format for a while.
“I’d been struggling a little bit to find my tempo and how I wanted to go about it at the top.
“I spoke to a few boys, and it was nice to contribute tonight.”
Mitch Marsh was named man-of-the-series after plundering 186 runs from 100 balls across his three innings in a stunning start to his reign as captain.
“I’m really proud of a pretty young group coming over here and winning the series 3-0,” Marsh said.
“We had a great team effort. We prepared really well, and we took the game on.
“We had a bit of luck at times, but as a team we had the mentality of being really positive.”
Australia paceman Sean Abbott was the hero with the ball in game three after snaring career-best figures of 4-31 to restrict South Africa to a total under 200.
South Africa slumped to 2-12 in the third over, but handy knocks from captain Aiden Markram (41 off 23 balls), Reeza Hendricks (42 off 30) and Tristan Stubbs (25 off 16) helped steady the ship.
Donovan Ferreira (48 off 21 balls) then provided the late fireworks after South Africa had slumped to 6-122 on the back of a middle-order slump of 3-6.
Abbott claimed a double-wicket maiden to inspire the middle-order rot, while Stoinis (2-39) did the early damage before being pummelled late.
Spinner Tanveer Sangha, who snared 4-31 on debut in the series opener before being squeezed out for game two, should have had a wicket in his first over on Sunday.
Hendricks was on 18 when he was struck on the midriff by a Sangha delivery.
The ball bounced down and hit the base of leg stump with some force – but the bail didn’t budge one bit.
Sangha ended the match with figures of 1-39, while Nathan Ellis (0-50) copped the brunt of South Africa’s onslaught, especially when Ferreira was at full force.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm fine with Starc because he was in pretty good form only a few weeks ago in the Ashes and was also very good in the ODI series against India in March. The other two guys are there on reputation but at some point soon, they need to support that with some good results. My concern is the selectors will trot out the usual nonsense about how well they're bowling/batting in practice, to justify not changing the squad, assuming these guys don't perform well.
Ace
Roar Rookie
To my mind Stones has been riding his luck for some time. A few recent wickets but not a lot more. Agree with YOUNGER Ellis . I'm not sure why Starc , Warner or Maxwell (to name a few) are picked when the selectors had the youth to hand to look at more of their opportunities in the middle Alas, youth grow old waiting their time
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure I understand why the numbers are restricted to 15 per squad? If they had two more picks, Ellis would be one of those for sure, IMO. It seems to me some of their picks are on reputation as much as results? Warner is the obvious player with question marks but so is Stoinis. I had a quick look at his one day results and his batting's been worse than average in his past 12 innings, he's made 220 runs at 18 and a s/r under 100), so his bowling must have been what got him onto the tour. The question then is, who will he replace? Green, MM and Maxwell are ahead of him as batting all-rounders and I reckon Abbot's ahead of him as a bowling all-rounder, so why was he chosen?
Ace
Roar Rookie
Well BigGordon we at least made one correct prediction in that Abbot may replace Ellis for the one day series Just disappointed that the youth has gone out of the squad Plus bringing back the old stagers from injury does not inspire me But, this what the selectors get paid to do..wrongly or rightly
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
At the least, I think they'll give Marnus a shot in the first couple of games in SA then see what happens from there. I don't think he should be on the plane to India, but then again I didn't think he should have been in the ODI mix in South Africa. The cynic in me keeps thinking about a Marnus/selector bromance.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
We are not short on 5th bowling options, with Marsh, Head and Maxwell almost certain starters and Green a likely starter. Marnus is not yet in the extended WC squad, I'm not sure I can see him getting any more than 1 or 2 chances at most in SA.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
I would like to see the number of overs an individual can bowl in T20s increased to 6 overs. It would make T20 a lot more interesting for me. Why does it have to be 5x4
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
My granddaughters think I'm great
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm a great grandfather
Ace
Roar Rookie
Yes, a good situation for selectors re Abbot and Ellis. Abbot also had a good county season (limited) with the bat which is another plus
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
We get to name a 15 man squad for the World Cup after naming this prelim 18 man squad. Batters: Green, Hardie, Head, Marsh, Maxwell, Smith, Stoinis, Warner Keepers: Carey, Inglis Paceman: Cummins, Abbott, Ellis, Starc, Hazlewood Spinners: Agar, Sangha, Zampa. Smith and Starc are unavailable for the SA tour and Labuschagne and Johnson are only in the squad for SA. From the above 20 they have to cut 5. At this stage, the first 2 cut will be Marnus and Spencer, that leaves 3 more, I cannot see room for Marsh, Green, Hardie and Stoinis, one of them will probably go, does Australia go with 2 keepers in the squad, remembering you can make injury replacements to your squad. One of the bowlers will go as well, either Ellis or Sangha, it will come down to they think will bowl better in Indian ODI conditions. I think it will come down to, Hardie/Stoinis, Inglis and Ellis/Sangha.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
what are you like at Dad jokes?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing the top 4 in India will be Warner, Head, MM & Smith. On that basis, I think the selectors see Marnus as possible cover for at least MM or Smith - but only if he can make runs. I suspect they'll give him every chance to make his case, hence my comment about his playing 5 matches. If he crashes and burns in early games, he might get pulled, just to give another likely WC player some match time. You're also right, there are other players who have more versatility than Marnus but don't forget he's not a bad spinner, though whether he's up to international ODI standards is another matter entirely.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Marnus is only in this squad because Smith pulled out, he would have to do something big if given the chance. His record in all 50 Cricket (both ODI and List A) is fairly mediocre, ave 31-32, SR 83-85. He is not going to hold his spot against Smith. I would have either Inglis or Stoinis in the squad, at least they bring a useful 2nd capability.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Ellis did well in an earlier match, but 0 - 50 off 4 overs in that 3rd game didn't do his cause a lot of favours. In fairness though, it was only one game and in this format, bowlers can easily go for plenty while still bowling well. The nice thing is, there are two guys who are both quality death bowlers when in form. Pretty sure selectors would be happy to go with either of them at present
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
MM clearly batted well, but for mine, Abbott was still unlucky because most people focus on the batting rather than the bowling. T20's are obviously a format set up for batting. Everything is stacked against bowlers, yet Abbott managed to take 8 wickets and concede less than 9 runs an over on postage stamp grounds with lightning fast outfields across the series. He even bowled a maiden over which in this format, is worth the same as a batsman hitting six 6's. Not saying MM was undeserving but Abbott was at worst a close second, IMO.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It been a long time since Maxxy has done much. I'd have him as a depth player now.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
When Marshy averaged over 180 at a 200 strike rate, I can't see how Abbott is "unlucky" to miss Man of the Series. He bowled well, though.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Abbott has been very consistent Gordon. He may have pipped Ellis for that death bowler role
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Warner has said he's planning to retire from international cricket after the T20 World Cup next year. So unless he is dropped he will finish up in ODI cricket at the end of the World Cup, Test cricket after the Pakistan series and T20I cricket after the T20 World Cup in the Windies. So we'll need a replacement in all three formats sometime between now and July next year at the latest.