Twitter Reactions: All-round Australia crush South Africa to take unassailable lead

Australia vs South Africa. (Photo Source: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Courtesy of fifties by skipper Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short, Australia outrightly dominated South Africa to win the second T20I by eight wickets and 31 balls remaining. In the process, the Aussies took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, September 1. 

Notably, Marsh made the right call during the toss and put the home side to bat first. The opening pair of Reeza Hendricks and Temba Bavuma got off to a promising start as they raised a 36-run stand. However, Sean Abbott drew first blood as he got the crucial scalp of Bavuma.

Rassie van der Dussen followed suit as he too headed back to the dugout for a paltry six runs. The Proteas’ miseries further compounded as Nathan Ellis’ double whammy deflated their batting innings as Hendricks and Dewald Brevis were sent packing off consecutive deliveries, which reduced their side to 46/4.

Skipper Aiden Markram tried hard to bail his side out of the precarious scenario with his 38-ball 49 which featured three fours and two sixes. However, that seemed about it for the Proteas as they were restricted to a modest 164 runs in their stipulated 20 overs.

While Ellis and Sean Abbott claimed three wickets apiece, Jason Behrendorff picked two. During the run-chase, the Aussies were determined to finish the match quick as they took just 14.5 overs to seal a series win. 

Short and skipper Marsh made a mockery of the chase with a disciplined batting performance. With four maximums and seven fours, Short slammed 66 off mere 30 balls at a stellar strike rate of 220.00. Likewise, Marsh too displayed his lethal hitting exploits as he hammered six maximums and eight fours in his unconquered 39-ball 79. With this, the Aussies comfortably won the contest by eight wickets.

Here is how followers of the SA vs AUS 2nd T20I match reacted on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter)-

Run Fest for Mitchell Marsh as a captain 👇

92*(49) in the first T20I.
79*(39) in the second T20I#AUSvsSA #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/zOIiLvTD5B

— Cricket X (@CricketX_Tweets) September 2, 2023

This man is at the peak of his powers right now #MitchellMarsh #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/tLHY2cyiHb

— Kumar Sourav (@AdamDhoni1) September 2, 2023

Another dominant performance by Australia as they take a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.#SAvAUS #AUSvSA #BackToHogwarts pic.twitter.com/n6hpPREndO

— CrickStory (@CrickStory) September 2, 2023

Typical Mitch Marsh. Now had two opportunities to captain his country and can’t even be bothered to post an average for the series. #SAvAUS

— Adam Hourigan (@adamhfoto) September 2, 2023

#SAvAUS
Such a shambles performance from @ProteasMenCSA thete is no desire to fight. Are they going westendies way????

— Amit Jha (@amit_a8) September 2, 2023

Travis Head’s mo gets all the attention but Sean Abbott has a very underrated moustache #SAvAUS

— g_pecka (@GlennPeczka) September 1, 2023

Honestly Proteas is dead #SAvAUS

— Tumelo Tshepo Moeketsi (@Tucha_Moeketsi) September 1, 2023

It’s just another sign of how far South Africa have fallen. They might be the new West Indies, with little scope for improvement due to limited funding.

— Daniel Mercer (@Sir_Merc) September 2, 2023

What a knock. You legend, Mitchy

— GOATSTRI (@Gayyivan) August 31, 2023

We will beat them in the upcoming RWC these Aussie people #SAvAUS

— Certified Khulichina 🍥 (@King_MM_M) September 1, 2023

What a catch, What a catch, what a catch. Bavuma 🔥🔥 #SAvAUSpic.twitter.com/PhuvquH8Dr

— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) August 30, 2023