Australia began their three-match Twenty20 cricket series against South Africa with a 17‑run win in Darwin on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
The match at Marrara Cricket Ground marked the return of international cricket to Darwin after 17 years and gave fans plenty of entertainment with big hitting, tight bowling, and dramatic moments.
Batting first, Australia were in early trouble after South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl. They slipped to 75 for 6, but Tim David came to the rescue with a brilliant innings of 83 runs from 52 balls, hitting eight sixes and four boundaries.
He got a big chance when he was dropped on 56, and he made South Africa pay by smashing the next two balls for six. Cameron Green added a quick 35 from 13 balls, but most of the other batters struggled.
Australia scored 178 runs before being bowled out in their 20 overs. Kwena Maphaka was South Africa’s best bowler, taking 4 for 20, while Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi also bowled well.
Chasing 179 to win, South Africa relied heavily on opener Ryan Rickelton, who scored 71 from 55 balls and kept his team in the hunt. But Australia’s bowlers kept striking at important moments.
Josh Hazlewood took 3 for 27, Adam Zampa claimed 2 for 33, and Glenn Maxwell bowled economically for 1 for 29.
Maxwell pulled off the best moment of the match with an amazing boundary catch to get Rickelton out. He jumped over the rope, tossed the ball in the air, and then stepped back in to complete the catch. South Africa ended on 161 for 9, falling short by 17 runs and left to regret the dropped catch that allowed Tim David to continue his attack.
The victory means Australia have now won 23 of their last 27 T20 internationals, including a recent 5‑0 series sweep against the West Indies. Captain Mitchell Marsh made an early statement by hitting the first ball of the match for six.
South Africa have managed only six wins in their last 13 T20 games and have not won any of their past three bilateral series. The second T20 is set for August 12 in Darwin, with the third in Cairns on August 16. A three‑match ODI series will follow from August 19.