Maxwell’s brilliance seals series win for Australia over South Africa

Glenn Maxwell produced a stunning unbeaten 62 to guide Australia to a tense two-wicket victory over South Africa in Cairns, clinching the three-match T20 series 2-1, Sport360NG reports.

Chasing 173 at Cazalys Stadium, the hosts looked in trouble at 122-6 in the 14th over before Maxwell turned the game with his first T20 international half-century in 11 innings. His knock, which came off just 36 balls, swung momentum back towards Australia after Corbin Bosch briefly tilted the contest South Africa’s way by removing Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis with successive deliveries in the penultimate over.

With 12 still required from the final two overs, Maxwell kept his composure and struck two boundaries off Lungi Ngidi to seal victory with one ball remaining.

“It was a little bit nerve-racking,” Maxwell admitted afterwards. “I probably had to do most of the striking but it was nice to find the middle right at the end.”

Earlier, Dewald Brevis smashed 53 from just 26 balls, while Rassie van der Dussen added an unbeaten 38, helping South Africa post 172-7 after being put in to bat. Nathan Ellis (3-31) and Adam Zampa (2-24) were the pick of the Australian bowlers.

Player of the series Tim David, who powered Australia to victory in the opener with 83 from 52 balls, paid tribute to Maxwell’s match-winning display: “Without him playing a blinder tonight, I wouldn’t be standing here. It’s been a real team effort and we’ve had so much fun this series.”

South Africa had levelled the contest earlier in Darwin with a convincing 53-run win, but Australia held their nerve in the decider to close out the series.

The two sides will now turn their attention to a three-match ODI series, beginning in Cairns on Tuesday before the final two fixtures are staged at The Great Barrier Reef Arena.