AUS beat SA by 97 runs | South Africa vs Australia, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd T20I Match

Right. A domination by the Aussies. They had a blank mind for 30 minutes during the closing stages of that second T20I - else it would have been a whitewash. Will the ODIs be better for the Proteas? Let us hope for some competitiveness. The first ODI starts on Saturday, 29th February, 2020 and it is a day-night affair at Boland Park, Paarl. Join us at 1 pm local (1100 GMT). ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Australian skipper, AARON FINCH, HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE SERIES. Feels great to be back amongst the runs and adds that the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. On his excellent running between the wickets with Warner, Finch says that running is something which the Australians pride themselves on and keep striving for it. On the importance of scoring runs in the Powerplay, Aaron says that most sides go hard at the start and at the death while the middle overs is where teams lose their way. So, if you keep wickets intact in the Powerplay, it helps you set a big total. Is proud of the way David Warner fought in the series, though, feels sad that he could not get his team home in the previous T20I. Lauds the bowlers and in general is happy that the group is consistent.

MITCHELL STARC HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Believes that all the bowlers have done well in this series. On taking Quinton de Kock, Starc says that he is a key player who can take off in the Powerplay and if he gets out early, the middle order can be put under pressure. On Ashton Agar's resurgence in this series, Starc smiles but says that every other bowler has been excellent too. On being asked whether Australia are the favourites for the T20 World Cup, Mitchell says that there are still plenty of games to go and as a group, they need to continue to do well and build on the momentum.

South African skipper, Quinton de Kock, admits that it is a very poor defeat but just hopes that his team puts its heads down and look forward. Does not quite agree that it was a bat-first pitch but feels that Australia got 20 runs above par. On the preparations for the World Cup, de Kock says that winning more matches would be a start. Adds that they are not playing T20Is for a while, so when they start doing, they will focus more. On being asked whether Australia are favourites for the T20 World Cup, de Kock smiles. Says that the Aussies have been competitive, regardless of any format and the T20 World Cup would be no different, especially given that they are playing at home. Looking towards his own side, Quinny is looking forward to some fresh faces in the ODIs and hopes to win that series.

Earlier in the day, Australia welcomes Quinton de Kock's invitation to bat first by getting off to a flier. 75 in the Powerplay, 114 in the first 10. Aaron Finch and David Warner punished every bowler who came to bowl but the Proteas did come back. A bit too late. A Steven Smith special took them to 193, which perhaps shut the door. Every Protea bowler struggled, barring Shamsi, who managed to prevent 200 being breached. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Before the start of this tour, Adam Zampa had told in the press conference that he was really eager to bowl in tandem with Ashton Agar as the latter helps him bowl well. First match - 6.3-0-33-7. Second match - 8-0-65-1. Third match - 7-0-26-5. It is no secret that the Proteas are not good players of spin and coach Justin Langer played his cards to perfection in picking the squad for this T20I series.

Quinton de Kock opined at the toss that the pitch will play better under lights, but he was proved totally wrong. Mitchell Starc struck in his very first over, got de Kock and that was it. These last two series have shown that if the skipper does not perform, the rest of the batsmen simply do not turn up and that is too much to ask for a bloke who has to keep wickets and then turn up to open as well. There was a brief partnership between van der Dussen and Klaasen but it was not big enough to challenge the Aussies.

Did the match get lost at the toss itself? In hindsight, certainly yes. The pitch looked dry and even Aaron Finch felt that batting would get tougher as the game progressed. Figure this out - Australia raced to 114/0 in 10 overs but then managed just 59 in the next 9 overs. A Steven Smith special helped them get close to 200 but now, looking at this victory margin, even 175 would have been enough.

Blown away in Jo'burg. Blown away in Cape Town. A nervous breakdown in Port Elizabeth. Well, if the latter had not happened, Australia were well on course for a 3-0 whitewash. They have steamrolled the opposition batsmen in every match and had it not been for a de Kock special in the second game, the batting statistics would have been embarrassing to view.

Mitchell Starc to Kagiso Rabada. OUT! LBW! That is all over! Full delivery on middle, Rabada looks to flick but gets hit on the pads. The bowler appeals for lbw and the umpire raises his finger. Ball Tracker later on shows that it is umpire's call and hitting the leg stump. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 97 RUNS AND TAKE THE SERIES 2-1!

Mitchell Starc to Kagiso Rabada. FOUR! Poor delivery from Starc! Full delivery on middle, Rabada flicks it towards fine leg for a boundary.

Mitchell Starc to Tabraiz Shamsi. On a length on middle, Shamsi looks to flick but gets it off the pads. It goes towards mid-wicket. The batsmen take a single. The umpire gives it as a leg bye.

Ashton Agar to Tabraiz Shamsi. Floated delivery on middle, Shamsi flicks it through mid-wicket for a run.

Ashton Agar to Tabraiz Shamsi. Flighted delivery on off, Shamsi keeps it out.

Ashton Agar to Tabraiz Shamsi. No hat-trick for Agar. A speedy delivery on middle, around 106 kph, Shamsi gets back to defend but ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

Ashton Agar to Lungi Ngidi. OUT! BOWLED! Two in two for Ashton! Agar gets his third wicket! Flighted delivery on middle, Ngidi looks to loft it but misses it completely and gets bowled. Ashton Agar is on a hat-trick now.

Ashton Agar to Anrich Nortje. OUT! LBW! The demolition is almost close to completion now. Full and straight, the arm ball, Nortje looks to play the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. Agar appeals and the umpire raises his finger.

Ashton Agar to Anrich Nortje. Short and outside off, punched through the covers but straight to cover.

Mitchell Marsh to Anrich Nortje. On a length on middle, Nortje flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Mitchell Marsh to Anrich Nortje. Good length delivery outside off, Nortje looks to cut but misses it.

Mitchell Marsh to Kagiso Rabada. On a good length on off, Rabada looks to defend but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man. Pat Cummins goes for a direct hit at the keeper's end but misses it. The batsmen take a run.

Mitchell Marsh to Anrich Nortje. Short and outside off, Nortje cuts it through point for a single.