T20 World Cup, AUS vs SA as it happened: Stoinis, Wade guide Australia to 5-wicket win
Highlights of the Super 12 Group 1 match between Australia and South Africa in Abu Dhabi.

T20 World Cup: South Africa and Australia kick-off Super 12 stage in ‘Group of Death’
Follow Scroll.in’s full coverage of the T20 World Cup here.
Asked to bat first, SA finished with 118/9.
In reply, AUS finished with 121/5 (19.4 overs).
Australia win by 5 wickets!
Stoinis (24* off 16) hits the winning runs. Wade remains unbeaten on 15 off 10. South Africa fought hard with the ball but they simply hadn’t done enough with the bat.
AUS 117/5 after 19.2 overs: Shot! Stoinis thumps one down the ground for four! That should be that. Australia need 2 off 4.
AUS 113/5 after 19.1 overs: Stoinis gets the first ball away and runs two. Australia need 6 off 5.
AUS 111/5 after 19 overs: Stoinis gets a boundary and Australia pick up 10 runs in that Nortje over. They need 8 off 6. Pretorius with the responsibility of providing something special for South Africa.
AUS 101/5 after 18 overs: Decent over from Pretorius, seven runs come from it. Australia need 18 off 12 with Stoinis and Wade at the crease. Crucial penultimate over by Nortje coming up.
AUS 94/5 after 17 overs: Wade survives and picks up four! He hit it in the air and Markram put in a dive forward at mid-off but the ball bounced just ahead of him and went through for four. Wade then ends the over with a superb, audacious scoop past short-fine for four. Expensive over from Rabada, he finishes with figures of 1/28 from his four. Australia need 25 off 18.
An impressive comeback from South Africa, but their tactic of frontloading their bowlers leaves Dwaine Pretorius with two overs at the death, a phase in which he’s bowled just 8 overs since the start of 2018. Could this be something Australia look to target?#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
Spin is IN #T20WorldCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 23, 2021
Aiden Markram! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mavo0i3LiJ
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 23, 2021
AUS 81/5 after 15.2 overs: OUT! Australia have lost both set batters! Maxwell (18 off 21) attempts a reverse-sweep and is clean bowled. Shamsi gets the wicket. Wade is the new batter. South Africa believe!
AUS 80/4 after 14.5 overs: OUT! Markram with a stunner at long-on and Smith falls to Nortje! He ran to his right and put in a full-length dive to pull off the catch. Wow! Smith walks back for 35 off 34. Stoinis is the new batter.
Most ducks by full-member captains in men's T20Is since 2018 (batting in top-7 position):-
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) October 23, 2021
6 - Aaron Finch🇦🇺
2 - Babar Azam🇵🇰
2 - Temba Bavuma🇿🇦
2 - Virat Kohli🇮🇳
2 - Mahmudullah Riyad🇧🇩
2 - Sikandar Raza🇿🇼
2 - Kane Williamson🇳🇿#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
Glenn Maxwell has now scored 108 runs with reverse sweeps and switch hits in 2021, the most for any batter in a calendar year after passing Colin Munro’s record of 103 runs in 2014.#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
AUS 75/3 after 14 overs: Maxwell brings out the reverse-sweep and picks up his first boundary. The hard-hitting all-rounder is playing another smart knock. He’s batting on 17 off 17.
AUS 68/3 after 13 overs: Shot! Maharaj drops one short and Smith punches it over cover for four. The right-hander moves on to 30 off 27.
AUS 60/3 after 12 overs: Smith and Maxwell don’t seem to be in a rush at the moment. They’re dealing in singles and trying to keep the scoreboard ticking. But South Africa are doing well to build pressure and another wicket here could give them a good chance in the match. Australia need 59 off 48.
Protea fire 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2DW7PlrXsu
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 23, 2021
AUS 51/3 after 10 overs: Pretorius joins the attack and bowls a nice over, just four runs from it. Australia need 68 off 60.
AUS 47/3 after 9 overs: Welcome boundary for Australia! Shamsi bowls one short and wide, Smith rocks back and gets a thick edge past short-third for four. The right-hander gets an inside-edge off the last ball and just about survives.
Seeing both these teams bat and wondering what are the chances they will finish 5th and 6th in this group. #T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 23, 2021
AUS 38/3 after 7.5 overs: OUT! South Africa are chipping away! This time Marsh (11 off 17) finds the fielder in the deep and Maharaj gets the wicket. Good catch by van der Dussen at deep mid-wicket. The in-form Maxwell is the new batter. Australia need a big partnership.
South Africa are going for an all-out attack, most likely a result of having not many to defend.
— Alagappan Vijayakumar (@IndianMourinho) October 23, 2021
The 5th bowler hasn't been introduced yet
Shamsi in by 7th
Rabada already 3 in
AUS 33/2 after 7 overs: Another good over for SA, this time Shamsi comes on to bowl and concedes just five runs in his first over. Australia need 86 off 78.
AUS 28/2 after 6 overs: Maharaj joins the attack and concedes just five runs in his first over. That’s the end of the powerplay, this match is still very much on.
#T20WorldCup #TeamIndia
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 23, 2021
Virat Kohli on Hardik Pandya:
"What he brings as a batter at that No. 6 spot is something that you just can’t create overnight"
Read more from the Indian captain's press conference here: https://t.co/ZSHqVVtRHy
AUS 20/2 after 4.3 overs: OUT! Australia have lost both their openers! Warner was looking good but he hits one to point. Rabada gets the wicket. South Africa still in this! Smith is the new batter.
AUS 16/1 after 4 overs: Marsh flicks the first ball of the over for four but Rabada does exceedingly well to bowl five dots after that. This is a fiery opening spell from the SA pacers.
Mitchell Marsh splits in T20s since the last T20 World Cup
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
vs Pace: 42 average, 149 strike rate.
vs Spin: 23 average, 103 strike rate. #T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
AUS 12/1 after 3 overs: Two fours for Warner! First with a pull and then with a drive through cover. That will give him immense confidence. Expensive over from Rabada.
AUS 4/1 after 1.5 overs: OUT! Nortje gets SA the start they were looking for! Captain Finch is gone for a five-ball duck after hitting one to third man. Good catch by Rabada. Mitch Marsh is the new batter.
AUS 2/0 after 1 over: Good start from Rabada, just two runs come from the first over. The Aussie batters have the luxury of taking time to settle in. Warner will be keen to get among the runs.
David Warner vs Kagiso Rabada in all T20s
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
12 innings
83 runs
60 balls
4 dismissals#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
5.27 pm: The target for Australia is 119. David Warner and Aaron Finch are at the crease. Can South Africa fight back with the ball?
South Africa’s score of 118-9 today is their lowest batting first in a 20 over game at a T20 World Cup. Their previous lowest was 122/8 against West Indies in Nagpur during the 2016 edition.#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
Below par score by #SA. Batting just didn’t get going. Aussies have to play horribly to lose this
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 23, 2021
South Africa finish with 118/9
Rabada’s cameo guides the Proteas to a somewhat respectable total in Abu Dhabi. Hazlewood with 2/19 was the pick of the bowlers for Australia. They’ll be confident of chasing down this target.
SA 115/9 after 19.4 overs: OUT! Nortje gets a leading edge and offers a simple catch to cover. Rabada, meanwhile, hit a superb six over long-on earlier in the over. Shamsi is the last batter.
SA 106/8 after 19 overs: Superb penultimate over from Cummins, he finishes his spell with figures of 1/17 from four overs. Can Rabada and Nortje take SA to 120? Starc to bowl the last over.
SA 98/8 after 17.1 overs: OUT! Markram flicks one to deep mid-wicket and Starc gets the wicket. The right-hander walks back for 40 off 36. He fought hard and spent a lot of time at the crease but departs just when SA needed him to go big. Anrich Nortje is the new batter.
SA 98/7 after 17 overs: Big over for SA! They get their first six of the innings as Markram pulls it all the way. Rabada then smacks one straight back for four. Hazlewood finishes with figures of 2/19 from his four overs.
SA 86/7 after 16 overs: Zampa finishes with figures of 2/21 from his four overs. The leg-spinner used his variations smartly today. SA have Markram and Rabada at the crease, they’ll be hoping to get close to 120.
It’s gone South…rapidly #AUSvSA #T20WorldCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 23, 2021
The art vs the artist pic.twitter.com/XHfA0WtKA9
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 23, 2021
SA 83/7 after 14.3 overs: OUT! A mix-up at the crease and Maharaj is run-out! Maxwell with the throw and Wade does the rest. That’s the last thing South Africa needed. Markram is holding fort but he’s running out of partners.
SA 82/6 after 14 overs: OUT! Zampa has two wickets in one over! Pretorius walks back after edging it to Wade. Sharp catch by the Aussie skipper. South Africa are falling apart with the bat. Keshav Maharaj is the new batter.
SA 80/5 after 13.3 overs: OUT! South Africa were finally building a partnership but it ends as Zampa removes Miller. The left-hander tries to sweep it but gets struck on his back leg. He takes the review and it shows three reds. Dwaine Pretorius is the new batter.
Hazlewood’s been superb. Playing all matches for CSK in the UAE has primed him up for the #T20WorldCup
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 23, 2021
SA 77/4 after 13 overs: Another fine over by Hazlewood. The right-arm pacer has sensational figures of 2/7 from three overs. Markram is batting on 28 off 27, Miller is on 14 off 16.
SA 71/4 after 12 overs: Zampa bowls a tidy over before Maxwell returns to finish off with figures of 1/24 from his four overs. SA get a welcome boundary to end the over as Markram cuts it away.
66% of Australia’s deliveries from pacers have pitched in the 6-9 metre region, picking up 3 wickets and conceding just 3.60 rpo. Hazlewood and Cummins are notorious for consistently hitting that back of a length area and it's delivered for them today.#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
SA 59/4 after 10 overs: Another quiet over from Maxwell, he’s been terrific with the ball so far – 1/16 from three overs. SA need to do something special in the second half of their innings.
SA 54/4 after 9 overs: Shot! Starc overpitches and Markram plays a nice front foot drive past cover for four. This pitch has been great for driving so far, SA’s batters need to find a way to stick around at the crease.
In my view reading of conditions/pitches and identifying the par score as soon as possible across the three venues is going to be the key to winning games. Sometimes you could easily aim for 180 and fall short. Day/Night, 3 different type of venues adds lot of dynamics.#AUSvSA
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) October 23, 2021
SA 46/4 after 8 overs: OUT! And another one goes down! This time Klaasen edges it to point and Cummins gets the wicket. A good catch diving forward by Smith. The right-hander had played a wonderful cover-drive for four earlier in the over but he closed the face of his bat too early this time to get the leading edge. David Miller is the new batter. Australia well on top!
Very disappointing Power Play for #SouthAfrica . Long way back in this game from here.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 23, 2021
SA 39/3 after 7 overs: Four! Zampa joins the attack and Klaasen sweeps one powerfully to pick up a boundary. SA need a big partnership here.
SA 29/3 after 6 overs: Shot! After NINE dot balls, South Africa get runs with a boundary off the bat of Markram. Cummins dropped one short and the right-hander punched it off the back foot past cover.
Since the last T20 World Cup, Quinton de Kock averaged 66 with a 153 strike rate inside the Powerplay, an impressive display from Australia to not only restrict de Kock’s scoring but also, rather fortunately, pick up his wicket. #T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
SA 23/3 after 4.1overs: OUT! Josh Hazlewood gets his second! Quinton de Kock with a freak dismissal – he tried to play the scoop but the ball bounced off him and went on to crash into the stumps. He seemed to have no idea where the ball was and was looking for a quick single. Heinrich Klaasen is the new batter.
SA 23/2 after 4 overs: Welcome boundary for SA! Maxwell drops it short and de Kock pulls it over mid-wicket for four. The pitch has a green tinge and the skidding ball is making life difficult for the batters.
Both AB de Villiers and JP Duminy played in all 6 T20 World Cups for South Africa, until this season.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) October 23, 2021
This is the first time either of them is not playing.#SAvAUS
Australia have now picked up 2 or more wickets in the Powerplay in 8 of their 16 T20Is since the start of this year.#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
SA 16/2 after 2.1 overs: OUT! Josh Hazlewood strikes with his first ball! Rassie van der Dussen pushed at it and got an edge through to the keeper. South Africa in trouble! Aiden Markram is the new batter.
SA 13/1 after 1.3 overs: OUT! Maxwell takes the new ball and strikes in his first over! It skid through and rattled Bavuma’s stumps. Just the start Australia were looking for. Rassie van der Dussen is the new batter.
11 runs come from Mitchell Starc’s opening over, that’s the joint most expensive opening over of an innings we’ve seen in the #T20WorldCup so far. #T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
SA 11/0 after 1 over: Back-to-back boundaries! Starc shapes it in and Bavuma plays a stylish on-the-rise drive past cover for four. The right-hander follows that up with a cracking drive past extra-cover for four. The South Africa skipper is on his way!
3.30 pm: We’re ready for play in Abu Dhabi! Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma are at the crease for South Africa. Mitchell Starc has the new ball in hand for Australia. Here we go!
46% - Mitchell Starc (@CricketAus) forced a false shot rate of 46% from batters from his 57 deliveries during the last T20I series between Australia and South Africa in February 2020, the highest of any bowler to bowl more than a single over in the series. Starve.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fvyu2wEWKx
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) October 23, 2021
Australia have won the toss and elected to bowl in their opening game of the Super 12s. Aaron Finch’s side have won just 2 of their 13 chases in T20Is since the start of 2020. #T20WorldCup #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 23, 2021
Playing XIs:
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klassen, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Toss:
Aaron Finch has won the toss and Australia will bowl first.
Last 7 @ICC trophy winners:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 23, 2021
2013 CT - India
2014 WT20 - Sri Lanka
2015 WC - Australia
2016 WT20 - West Indies
2017 CT - Pakistan
2019 WC - England
2019-21 - New Zealand
7 different winners.
Will we see a new winner in #ICCT20WorldCup2021 ?
SA?
Ban?
Afg?
We had 6 T20 World Cup’s in the first 9 years and now begins the first one in 5 years . The Super 12 begins today and great to be part of the commentary team of what promises to be a cracking tournament. Let the fun begin . #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/JDIhRnMZMv
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 23, 2021
The toss is coming up in a few minutes!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 23, 2021
What's your XI look like? #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/mW5MRFZ8e8
2.57 pm: T20 World Cup, Group 1, Data check – From England to Windies, one key strength and weakness of teams. Read more.
Looking at the condition and team strengths, my top 2 teams this T20 World Cup are INDIA AND AUSTRALIA. Would have love to put West Indies in top 2 but I feel they are thin on their bowling department! What’s yours ?? #T20WorldCup
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 23, 2021
Excited about the start of the Super 12 stage of the #ICCT20WorldCup. Can't be believe it is five years since the last one. Will never happen again. Huge weekend coming up.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 23, 2021
💬 "The one thing that we are missing is a World Cup."
— ICC (@ICC) October 23, 2021
The Proteas are all fired up ahead of the start of their #T20WorldCup 2021 campaign 🔥 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/JNcDywARDH
2.40 pm: The true World Cup – T20 is the most democratic of all of cricket’s formats and that makes it fun. Read more.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Super 12 Group 1 match between Australia and South Africa in Abu Dhabi.