3rd T20I, AUS Vs RSA, 2025 Highlights : Maxwell’s Destructive Half Century Claimed A High Thrilling Victory Over South Africa As Australia Cliched T20 Series by 2-1 .

3RD T20I , AUSTRALIA Vs SOUTH AFRICA , CAIRNS , 2025 HIGHLIGHTS : Maxwell’s Destructive Half Century Claimed A High Thrilling Victory Over South Africa As Australia Cliched T20 Series by 2-1 .

Glenn Maxwell pulled off a stunning catch and then hammered a pressure-filled half-century to lead Australia to a narrow two-wicket victory over a gritty South African side, clinching the three-match Twenty20 series in Cairns on Saturday. Chasing South Africa’s total of 172-7, Australia found themselves in trouble at 122-6 by the 14th over, but Maxwell responded with an unbeaten 62 off 36 deliveries. The match saw late drama as Corbin Bosch claimed Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis in back-to-back balls, but Maxwell sealed the win with a boundary on the second last ball and celebrated enthusiastically. Maxwell’s Destructive Half Century Claimed A High Thrilling Victory Over South Africa As Australia Cliched T20 Series by 2-1 .

TOSS

Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XI

Australia:

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa:

Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s innings was anchored by Dewald Brevis, who smashed a quickfire 53 from 26 balls. After Aiden Markram was removed by Josh Hazlewood in the opening over, Lhuan-dre Pretorius gave the innings an early boost before Nathan Ellis struck back. Adam Zampa then dismissed Ryan Rickelton, reducing the visitors to 50/3. Brevis responded aggressively, racing to a record-breaking 22-ball half-century—the fastest by a South African in T20 internationals—blasting four sixes in a single over from Aaron Hardie.

Ellis returned to snare Brevis with a slower bouncer, sparking a collapse. Zampa bowled Stubbs, Bosch fell to Hazlewood, and South Africa crumbled from 110/3 to 138/6. Some late boundaries from Rassie van der Dussen, along with handy contributions from Muthusamy and Rabada, pushed their total to 172/7, but it was not enough to withstand Maxwell’s match-winning knock.

AUSTRALIA-

Mitchell Marsh started it with a six off Kagiso Rabada and followed up by smoking another one over long-off against Lungi Ngidi, and also hit Kwena Maphaka to the fence. Travis Head joined in, slashing two fours off Maphaka before Marsh survived a return chance off Rabada and then took the same bowler for a pick-up six. Ngidi was driven for a boundary by Head with the final ball of the powerplay, Australia 52.

Marsh then blasted two sixes in the opening over from spinner Senuran Muthusamy, but Head departed for 19 when he top-edged a sweep off Markram. Corbin Bosch then had Josh Inglis bowled first ball after skidding one through. The chase was carried on by Marsh, reaching his fifty in his 35th delivery with a six off Muthusamy over square leg to make the score-board read 82/2 after first ten overs.

South Africa, however, clawed back. He then dismissed Cameron Green in identical fashion off the very next delivery to finish a fine spell of fast bowling. Glenn Maxwell hit two fours off Maphaka and Ngidi to offer some quick reprieve, but the wickets were falling. David threw his bat into a return grab towards Rabada and Hardie was caught at long-on as Australia slipped to 122/6.

Maxwell, though, took charge. He followed it up with a six and a four off Rabada in the 18th and raced through to his 30-ball fifty. Australia still needed 13 off the last two overs, but Bosch cleared choked de Kock once again taking out Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis while giving away just two runs. Needing 10 off the last over, Maxwell gathered a pair from the first ball, and hit Ngidi through point for four then sealed victory in audacious style with another four by reverse-hitting.

Brief scores:

South Africa 172/7 in 20 overs (Dewald Brevis 53, Rassie van der Dussen 38*; Nathan Ellis 3-31, Adam Zampa 2-24) lost to Australia 173/8 in 19.5 overs (Glenn Maxwell 62*, Mitchell Marsh 54; Corbin Bosch 3-26, Kagiso Rabada 2-32) by 2 wickets.