SA beat AUS by 12 runs | South Africa vs Australia, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd T20I Match

Double joy for South Africa then! First the females registered their first ever World T20 win over England and then their male counterparts followed it up by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat! Potentially, this sets up for a cracking decider. Join us on Wednesday, 26th February, 2020 at 6 pm local (1600 GMT). ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

VICTORIOUS SOUTH AFRICAN SKIPPER, QUINTON DE KOCK, HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. On his blitzkrieg against the new ball, de Kock agrees with what Finch said, attacking the new ball and he just tried to maximize the Powerplay. On the South Africans falling short of 180, de Kock plainly says that the team knew 160 was good enough and the bowlers did their job. Praises them for bowling well and sticking to their plans. On the improved catching in their game, Quinton says that at this level, one should know what to bowl and how. Feels that the decider is going to be a good game with the pitch expected to be nice. Hopes that his team does well again.

Australian captain, Aaron Finch admits that it was a great contest to watch as the ones on slower surfaces are. Praises the bowlers from his side for dragging things back. Believes that his team was on track to win but could not quite finish the job. Agrees that taking pace off the ball was the key on this surface. Smiles and says that if boundaries are not coming, ones and twos are essential but with a fielding side as South Africa, it is pretty hard to take twos. Also affirms that on a slower track, the new ball is the key and hence, the openers came out all guns blazing, trying to blast the Protea bowlers. Praises the opposition bowlers and his own team's, for bowling exceptionally at the death. Admits that this is the sort of situation that the team required and the middle order, trying to get the team over the line. Hopes that at the next opportunity, it does better.

Earlier in the day, Quinton de Kock was driving a runaway train on fire, as South Africa galloped to 59/0 in the Powerplay. They were 121/2 in the 15th over but de Kock's wicket stalled their progress as Australia remarkably bowled superbly at the death, restricting them to 158. Kane Richardson was the starter of the choke, finishing with 2/21 in 4 overs. But that burst from the Protea skipper at the top proved to be just enough. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

All the above factors mentioned below are due to sensational death bowling. Let us take you back a few years ago. 11th October, 2015. Venue - Kanpur. It was the birth of a star for years to shine. Kagiso Rabada. India were gunning down 304 in an ODI, needing 11 runs from 6 balls with MS Dhoni in the middle. Rabada went 2, 1, 1, Dhoni wkt, Binny wkt and a run. 4-and-a-half years later, he comes on in the 17th over and concedes just 10 in his last 2 overs. Brilliant, brilliant bowling. He was well supported by Ngidi and Nortje at the death. Ngidi was expensive but he saved his best for the last. Finished with 3 wickets.

Where did the game turn? Hard to say. Because to take one point as the match-turning one is very difficult! Australia got most of the things right in this chase. 54/1 in the Powerplay, then a decent stand between Warner and Smith, ensuring that the required run rate does not go out of hand and Warner staying till the end. The match was up for grabs but still they could not cross the line.

A bizarre game of cricket. First, South Africa get off to a flier, look like they will get to 180, only to be busted and stifled to under 160. Then Australia repeat the dose, go hammer and tongs, stay neck-and-neck for three quarters of the run chase, only to blow it up in the final quarter! Excellent to witness. David Warner is downcast. He will be gutted that he was there till the end, yet, could not take his side over the line.

Wow. Aaron Finch? Justin Langer? David Warner? How did that get out of hand? 32 needed from 24 with 7 wickets in hand. Quinton de Kock? Mark Boucher? Kagiso Rabada? Lungi Ngidi? What do you guys have for meals? Steel? Because you are men of steel. Take a bow, gentlemen. To hold your nerves with your backs to the wall, nerves of steel are required. And you were stellar.

Anrich Nortje to Mitchell Starc. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 12 RUNS! A full toss, on middle, Starc just bunts it towards point and jogs across for a single. What a comeback by the Proteas. The 'Chokers' have choked their opposition!

Anrich Nortje to David Warner. A full toss, outside leg, Warner misses his flick. The ball goes off his pads to the leg side and now, Warner takes a leg bye this time. 14 needed on the final ball.

Anrich Nortje to David Warner. DOT BALL! The crowd rejoices. Unless we get extra balls and plenty of runs scored off them, we are going to Cape Town with the series level. Full and around off, Warner can only drive it straight to short extra cover. Does not take the single, albeit the game is gone.15 needed from 2 balls.

Anrich Nortje to Mitchell Starc. Just a single. A slower ball, the off cutter, around middle, Starc backs away and looks to punch but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolls to the off side. Nortje gets to the ball and thinks about throwing at the bowler's end but does not. 15 needed from 3.

Anrich Nortje to Ashton Agar. OUT! BOWLED! This also means that Warner will be off strike for one more delivery. mission impossible for him and Australia now. A length ball, around middle, Agar looks to pull but the ball skids through and pegs the off stump back! 16 needed from 4.

Anrich Nortje to David Warner. Just a single. Is that the game? Short and around leg. Warner backs away and punches it straight to sweeper. 16 needed from 5.

Kagiso Rabada to Ashton Agar. A dot to finish. Just 3 from the penultimate over! Match-winning one. A length ball, around middle, Agar looks to pull but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. The ball drops down beside him and there is a single available but understandably, Warner rejects it. He has no choice now. He has to single-handedly try and deliver the impossible. 17 needed from the final over.

Kagiso Rabada to Ashton Agar. WIDE. Full and down the leg side, Ashton misses his flick.

Kagiso Rabada to Ashton Agar. ANOTHER DOT! The crowd is going wild. This is sensational death bowling. Full and outside off, Ashton looks to steer it to third man but misses!

Kagiso Rabada to David Warner. Full toss, on off, driven straight to Dwaine Pretorius at short extra cover. He fumbles, Warner wants the second but fielder recovers quickly and Warner sends Agar back.

Kagiso Rabada to Ashton Agar. Short and around off, punched through the covers for just a single. 19 needed from 9 now.

Kagiso Rabada to Ashton Agar. DOT BALL! Full and on off, pushed back to the bowler.

Kagiso Rabada to Matthew Wade. OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! The choking continues. The off cutter, outside off, on a length. Wade looks to flick but is early into the shot. He gets a leading edge which goes straight back to the bowler! Rabada is not going to drop those. A short stay for Wade. 20 needed from 11.