Australia vs South Africa: International T20 cricket live scores, blog

Winning back the faith of the cricket public has been as difficult as winning matches of late for the Australians, and their uphill task with the white ball continues here.

In a sole T20 match, they will again take on South Africa as the Gold Coast plays host to an International match for the first time. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage, from 7:20pm (AEDT).

There were a handful of positives for both sides in the One-Day series just completed, but South Africa undoubtedly outplayed the home side.

While Australia’s 50-over struggles don’t look like resolving in the short-term, they have become a much improved T20 side one might say.

That aside, they were embarrassingly dominated 3-0 only last month in the format at the hands of Pakistan.

It may be a one-off match, but the Australians will be wanting to avenge for an underwhelming ODI series marred by unacceptable batting failures in the top order.

I will be very interested to see which pace bowling unit can gain ascendency and the extent to which both sides use their spin options to take control.

The tourists have the in-form players right now, but it would be silly to discount the extraordinary T20 capabilities within Australia’s squad.

The line-ups entering this clash should be very similar to those seen in the One-Day series – where South Africa cruised to a 2-1 victory – with the squads largely the same.

Cricket Australia will be praying for improved attendances live and televised, following the well-documented dwindling number who observed the series which concluded on Sunday.

South Africa made light work of the XI cobbled together by CA, which featured numerous T20 guns, setting them an insurmountable 202 to win.

Their top order again among the runs in a quality display. For Australia, this match will be followed by three against the arriving Indians, commencing next Wednesday.

One to watch

Australia
It’s not an easy one to pick, but for this match I’ve put the microscope on Chris Lynn. We know what he can do in this format, through multiple seasons of carnage with the Brisbane Heat.

That said, he’s yet to transfer this to the International scene, despite limited opportunities, and looked unsettled in the one-day outfit.

It might just be his most dangerous format where we see him coming into his own. If Australia stand any chance to have some T20 success in the next fortnight, they will need Lynn clearing the ropes.

South Africa
The Proteas enter this match with a wave of players in good form. Look out for Aiden Markram, who got some starts in the One-Day matches, looking very good at times before finding ways to get out.

His preparation was helped with a quickfire 45 in the warm-up match, and his quality is already obvious.

Squads

Australia
Aaron Finch, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

South Africa
Faf du Plessis, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Prediction

If Australia can begin to rectify their batting mishaps, they will give themselves every chance.

South Africa just seem to have their measure at present though in the short forms and should continue to here.

Don’t forget to join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:20pm (AEDT) and drop a comment to share your thoughts.

When: Saturday November 17, 2018 – 7:20pm (AEDT), 6:20pm (local)
Where: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast QLD
TV: Fox Cricket
Odds: Australia: $1.80, South Africa: $2