South Africa vs Australia: Second T20 international live scores, blog

After dominating South Africa by 107 runs on Friday night in Johannesburg, Australia now seek to gain an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 11:30pm (AEDT).

Australia were superb more or less from start to finish in the first match of this T20 series, posting a total of 6-196 with an attacking power play of 1-70 as Aaron Finch and Steve Smith smashed the South African bowlers around the park. This continued for the rest of the innings with strike rates for all the batsman above 120.

In their innings, South Africa crumbled, limping to 89 all out from 14.3 overs. The signs weren’t encouraging when Quinton de Kock, who can usually be expected to get an innings off to a good start, was bowled by Mitchell Starc off just the third ball of the South African innings.

The home side continued to be troubled by the Australian bowling with Ashton Agar taking his first ever hat trick in T20 internationals, becoming only the second Australian to do so after Brett Lee’s against Bangladesh in the 2007 World T20. Agar was deservedly named man of the match, having taken a five-for from his four overs.

Prediction
If the South Africans can get the correct mindset for the second match in this T20 series then I would expect the match in Port Elizabeth to be closer. I don’t expect another drubbing like we saw in Johannesburg, anyway.

Australia will still have the edge though, and if they bat first again, should be expected to put on another high total for South Africa to chase down. South Africa are capable of making high totals too, having scored over 200 twice in the recent T20 series against England.

Expect Australia to secure the series victory. They look to have the better package at the moment.

Join The Roar tonight from 11:30pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates to see who will win out in Port Elizabeth.

Game information

First ball: 11:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth
TV: Fox Cricket
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Australia $1.50, South Africa $2.62

South Africa squad
Quinton de Kock (c), Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen

Australia squad
Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa