Right then, 178 is by no means a big score by modern T20 standards, that too on a pitch that seems good for batting, but it is a total that keeps both sides in the game. Aussies will come hard at the Proteas with the ball and the visitors will need to apply themselves productively at the crease and lay down an early platform. Should be an exciting run chase, so stick around.

The Proteas, on the other hand, will head into the break thinking about what could have been. The wickets show that their bowlers bowled well and yes, that is certainly true for a large part of the innings but the Aussies threw away their wickets at times. And when the bowlers created catching opportunities, not all were gobbled up and probably the costliest of them all was the dropped catch of Tim David by Tristan Stubbs, which, if Stubbs had taken, Australia might have been blown away a lot s

After that batting performance, Australia will be asking themselves - how much is too much? Their uber-aggressive, 'Bazball-esque' approach might have got them 71 runs in the first 6 overs but probably the trade-off with the wickets wasn't a fair one, as they were 6 for 75 in just 7.4 overs. Still, that scintillating knock from Tim David, worth 83 off 52 balls, coupled with a breezy cameo from Cameron Green, has taken Australia to a score that is atleast a defendable one.

Darwin, are you not entertained? Well, that was as action-packed as a T20 innings can get, but in the end, South Africa will be slightly the happier of the two sides as Australia have finished a few runs short of what the pitch seems to demand. But, on a ground which no one has played on in 17 years in International cricket, you never know what the right score is.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, ! ELLIS IS RUN OUT! 

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, Six!

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, No run.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, NO BALL! That has really slipped out of the hand but poor Zampa is in pain.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, No run.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, Ouch!

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, ! Much needed boundary for the Aussies! Low full toss outside off, Nathan Ellis just shows the full face of the bat and drives it past the mid off fielder for a welcome boundary.

Corbin Bosch will bowl the final over. 2-0-32-0 so far.

Kwena Maphaka to Josh Hazlewood, No run.

Josh Hazlewood is the last batter in, replacing Adam Zampa. ​​​​​Will Australia be able to bat out their 20 overs?

Kwena Maphaka to Adam Zampa, ! CAUGHT! Well, the focus was on Australia's batting and David's half century. But all of a sudden, Maphaka is on a 5-fer! Full and down the leg side, Adam Zampa flicks it beautifully but ends up hitting it to Tristan Stubbs running to his right from deep mid-wicket who makes no mistake this time. Fourth wicket for Maphaka as Zampa departs for 

Kwena Maphaka to Nathan Ellis, Full and down the leg side, Nathan Ellis looks to swing for the heavens but misses due to the lack of pace. The ball goes off his pads, past the off stump, towards short third and the batters sneak in a leg bye.

Kwena Maphaka to Adam Zampa, Delivers on a length delivery, going away from the batter, Zampa plays it to deep point for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, AGAIN? This time, Dewald Brevis is the culprit.

Adam Zampa walks in next, at number 10, replacing Tim David.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, ! c Tristan Stubbs b Kwena Maphaka.

FREE HIT coming up.

Kagiso Rabada to Nathan Ellis, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Nathan Ellis, No Ball! Oh, that is a big No Ball from KG!

Gone, caught! But is that a no ball? Dear me, it is as Rabada has overstepped!

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, In the air, but will land safely! Back of a length and wide outside off, David looks to power it over the off side but mistims it high up and over covers. The batters cross for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, ! Gets a hold of that one, does Tim David! Dug in well short and over middle, David stays back and makes room before getting on top of the bounce and flat-batting it to the left of Lhuan-dre Pretorius at deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, No run.

Kagiso Rabada returns. 3-0-23-2 so far.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, Pitches the ball fuller and on middle and leg, David presents the full face of the blade and pushes it uppishly down to long on.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, Slower delivery, back of a length and at the bodyline, David just nudges it into the leg side and picks up another single on the final delivery of the over.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, Six!

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, 2 runs.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, Six!

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, Six!

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, On the shorter side again and on off, swung away without much timing down to long on for a single.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Fuller in length and on the pads, flicked away just behind square leg for a single by David and he will keep strike for the start of the next over.

Kwena Maphaka to Nathan Ellis, Well managed in the end by Ellis. Back of a length and on off, this one angles away with some sharp bounce. Nathan Ellis hops and manages to glove it wide of the diving keeper and down to deep third for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, ! CAUGHT! Enough power but not enough elevation!

Nathan Ellis walks in next, at number 9, replacing Ben Dwarshuis.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, A quick short ball around off, jumps off the deck and Dwarshuis is beaten on the cut.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, 1 run.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, Hard length, in and around off, chopped down just behind square on the off side and after looking at each other for a couple of seconds, the batters scamper through for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, Back of a length and around off, Dwarshuis fetches the ball and pulls it down to long on for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, ! In the gap! Good-length delivery outside off, just too much width on offer. Ben Dwarshuis stays back, reaches out and glides it through backward point for a boundary. KG isn't happy with that delivery.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, Wide! Oh, seemed like a tight call! Pace off again, dug in shirt over middle and leg, Dwarshuis just sways away from the line of the ball and it is called a wide for being too high.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, Short again, this time at the body, David picks the length early and pulls it firmly towards deep square leg for just a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, This is dug in short by KG and outside off, Tim David stays leg side of the ball and has a swoosh at it, slicing it away through cover-point for a couple of runs.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! 50 FOR DAVID IN 29 BALLS! Boy, this came out of nowhere. Amidst the cluster of wickets, someone has eventually got to a half century.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, 2 runs.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! THRASH! A short ball, down the leg side, Tim David swivels, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it over deep backward square leg for half a dozen! And a bloke in the crowd takes a one-handed stinger! Blimey!

Corbin Bosch to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, Slower ball, short of a length, around off, David looks to pull but is early into the shot. Miscues it to Kagiso Rabada at deep mid-wicket, on the bounce. Takes the single.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, Slower ball, on a length, around middle, coming in, Tim David looks to pull but misses and is hit on the pads.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, ! THRASH! That's the power of David.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, FIVE WIDES! A rare bonus for Australia. Linde fires it down the leg side and Dwarshius lets it go. But the keeper, Ryan Rickelton, is blinded and dives but is late and the ball goes through, to the fine leg fence!

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, ! TAKE THAT!

George Linde to Tim David, Full and down the leg side, flicked through square leg for a single.

George Linde to Tim David, Fuller, around leg stump, Tim David looks to defend but the ball pitches and turns away, squaring him up and hitting him on the pads. Linde appeals for LBW but that pitched outside leg.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, A short ball, outside off, cut through point for a single.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, Landed outside off, Ben Dwarshuis looks to punch but gets a bottom edge back onto the pitch.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, A short ball, outside off, pushed towards cover.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Four!

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Six!

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, Slower through the air, around middle, Tim David defends. Just a run and a wicket to start off Muthusamy's spell.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, Outside off, pushed down to long off for a single.

Ben Dwarshuis walks in next, at number 8, replacing Glenn Maxwell.

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Maxwell departs now and this might be a 10-over innings!

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, The arm ball, outside off, Glenn looks to go inside out but misses.

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Another good short ball, around leg stump, extra bounce, Tim David rises with the bounce and fends it towards point. 4 runs and a wicket to start off for the teen sensation.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Wide!

Kwena Maphaka to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

Glenn Maxwell walks in next, at number 7, replacing Mitchell Owen.

Kwena Maphaka to Mitchell Owen, ! BOWLED! The off stump has gone cartwheeling!

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Another short ball, pulled away all along the ground, through deep backward square leg for a run.

Kwena Maphaka to Mitchell Owen, A short ball, outside off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Phew. What was that? 4 wickets and 6 sixes and 6 fours in 36 balls. All action. Kwena Maphaka into the attack now.

Kwena Maphaka to Mitchell Owen, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Owen, Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Mitchell Owen is early into his chip and mistimes it towards long on for a single. 71/4 in the POWERPLAY!

Who now?

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, ! CAUGHT! Green's destructive innings come to an end!

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, Four!

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, ! These guys just don't want to stop. Full, down the leg side, Cameron Green gets down on a knee and casually flicks it over deep backward square leg!

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! THIS TIME IT'S TIM DAVID!

Corbin Bosch to Cameron Green, 1 run. Lands it on length and around off, Green hops up and tucks that in front of covers for a quick run.

Corbin Bosch to Cameron Green, ! CLEAN STRIKE FROM GREEN!

Corbin Bosch to Cameron Green, Full and straight, Cameron Green whips it through mid-wicket and sets off for the single. But short mid-wicket dives to his left to intercept and Green has to scurry back.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, Full and straight, swinging in, David heaves hard and the ball goes off the inner half of the bat through square leg. A single taken.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! Corbin Bosch into the attack and is greeted nicely! Overpitched, wide outside off, Tim David reaches out and blasts it over cover for a boundary.

Kagiso Rabada to Cameron Green, ! CLIPPED AWAY NICELY!

Kagiso Rabada to Cameron Green, Wide!

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, A touch shorter and outside off, Tim looks to slap that on the off side, but fails to make a good connection. The ball rolls down past the bowler and a single is taken.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, ! SMOKED! On a length, around middle and off, David stays leg side of the ball and swings it straight back. Seems to have mishit it initially but the ball ends up right near the sightscreen!

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, On a length, outside off, Tim David defends it towards cover.

Kagiso Rabada to Mitchell Marsh, ! CAUGHT! And now, they are three!

Tim David walks in next, at number 5, replacing his skipper, Mitchell Marsh.

George Linde to Cameron Green, ! GREEN IS IN SOME MOOD!

George Linde to Cameron Green, MORE!

George Linde to Cameron Green, ! PUT AWAY NICELY IN THE OFF SIDE! Lands it on a short, outside off and Green rocks back and puts it through the covers for a boundary.

George Linde to Cameron Green, No run.

George Linde to Josh Inglis, ! CAUGHT! Two wickets in three balls! Short, outside off, Josh Inglis rocks back to cut.

Cameron Green walks in next, at number 4, replacing Josh Inglis.

George Linde to Mitchell Marsh, Short, outside off, Mitchell Marsh stands tall and punches it through the covers for a single.

Josh Inglis walks in next, at number 3, replacing Travis Head. Time for spin as well. Here's George Linde.

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, ! c Kwena Maphaka b Kagiso Rabada.

Gone this time? Almost like a carbon copy of the previous ball, Head has slashed one again, this time probably straight into the hands of the fielder at backward point.

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, IS IT CAUGHT THIS TIME? UMPIRE REVIEWS

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, Action replay of the previous delivery. Okay, slight difference. After the ball went past his attempted slash, Head was heard groaning on the stump mic, 'Ohhhhhhhh!' Absolutely no intention of defending or playing the ball on merit, aye?

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Mitchell Marsh, A loosener to start from Rabada as well and he is very lucky to get away with it. Full and down the leg side, Mitchell Marsh swings it casually through fine leg. The fielder in the deep is a bit square and has some distance to cover to his right.

Right. That was some start. Clearly, the intentions are just to go bang bang. What would be interesting to see is - whether this approach continues if wickets fall in clusters. By the way, just felt strange on hearing this from Mark Howard on air. He calls Australia and South Africa as the 'JOINT SECOND FAVOURITES' to win the World Cup next year. Ermm... we usually say the favourites, or one of the favourites, right? Seems like even favourites have begun to get denoted in standings. Here's Kag

Lungi Ngidi to Travis Head, 2 runs.

Lungi Ngidi to Travis Head, Over the wicket. Back of length, and around the hips, Travis Head hops up and keeps it down.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, Pitched it on a good length, outside off, Mitchell Marsh goes back and cuts it hard towards the deep point to rotate the strike.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, ! SMASH! Yes, that's a Marsh special.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, Wide!

All set for play to begin! Template in the West Indies? Win toss, chase. That has changed here, for the Bison. Lost toss, have to set a score now. How will Australia go about it? Especially when they have been pretty open to showing a liking to chasing totals? The new opening pair for the Kangaroos has hopped out to the middle, in the form of head and bison. Wow. Just read that without any capital letters or proper nouns. Pun intended. Skipper Mitchell Marsh strides out with Travis Head. Lung

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, ! Hello! Are we still in the Caribbean?

The Australian skipper, Mitchell Marsh, says that they would have bowled first as well because they haven't played at this venue, but reckons that it looks like a belter. On the opportunity to seal a record 9th straight T20I win, he says he wasn't aware and hopes that the run can continue and they can put on a show for the Darwin crowd. Mentions that this ground is a fair bit bigger than the one in St. Kitts and hopes that they can score plenty of runs.

Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa, says he wants to have a look at the pitch with the ball first and then take the rest of the game from there. He says he is enjoying himself so far. He has been in town for about a week, has explored some nice places, and has also managed to get some good training on the side. Speaking about the series, he says it is part of the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year. They are trying to fine-tune a lot of things, aiming to play about 15–20 games b

South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram (C), Ryan Rickelton (WK), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, and Lungi Ngidi.

Australia (Playing XI) - Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.

TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favor of South Africa. Aiden Markram opts to BOWL first.

Right then, 178 is by no means a big score by modern T20 standards, that too on a pitch that seems good for batting, but it is a total that keeps both sides in the game. Aussies will come hard at the Proteas with the ball and the visitors will need to apply themselves productively at the crease and lay down an early platform. Should be an exciting run chase, so stick around.

The Proteas, on the other hand, will head into the break thinking about what could have been. The wickets show that their bowlers bowled well and yes, that is certainly true for a large part of the innings but the Aussies threw away their wickets at times. And when the bowlers created catching opportunities, not all were gobbled up and probably the costliest of them all was the dropped catch of Tim David by Tristan Stubbs, which, if Stubbs had taken, Australia might have been blown away a lot s

After that batting performance, Australia will be asking themselves - how much is too much? Their uber-aggressive, 'Bazball-esque' approach might have got them 71 runs in the first 6 overs but probably the trade-off with the wickets wasn't a fair one, as they were 6 for 75 in just 7.4 overs. Still, that scintillating knock from Tim David, worth 83 off 52 balls, coupled with a breezy cameo from Cameron Green, has taken Australia to a score that is atleast a defendable one.

Darwin, are you not entertained? Well, that was as action-packed as a T20 innings can get, but in the end, South Africa will be slightly the happier of the two sides as Australia have finished a few runs short of what the pitch seems to demand. But, on a ground which no one has played on in 17 years in International cricket, you never know what the right score is.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, ! ELLIS IS RUN OUT! 

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, Six!

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, No run.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, NO BALL! That has really slipped out of the hand but poor Zampa is in pain.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, No run.

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, Ouch!

Corbin Bosch to Nathan Ellis, ! Much needed boundary for the Aussies! Low full toss outside off, Nathan Ellis just shows the full face of the bat and drives it past the mid off fielder for a welcome boundary.

Corbin Bosch will bowl the final over. 2-0-32-0 so far.

Kwena Maphaka to Josh Hazlewood, No run.

Josh Hazlewood is the last batter in, replacing Adam Zampa. ​​​​​Will Australia be able to bat out their 20 overs?

Kwena Maphaka to Adam Zampa, ! CAUGHT! Well, the focus was on Australia's batting and David's half century. But all of a sudden, Maphaka is on a 5-fer! Full and down the leg side, Adam Zampa flicks it beautifully but ends up hitting it to Tristan Stubbs running to his right from deep mid-wicket who makes no mistake this time. Fourth wicket for Maphaka as Zampa departs for 

Kwena Maphaka to Nathan Ellis, Full and down the leg side, Nathan Ellis looks to swing for the heavens but misses due to the lack of pace. The ball goes off his pads, past the off stump, towards short third and the batters sneak in a leg bye.

Kwena Maphaka to Adam Zampa, Delivers on a length delivery, going away from the batter, Zampa plays it to deep point for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, AGAIN? This time, Dewald Brevis is the culprit.

Adam Zampa walks in next, at number 10, replacing Tim David.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, ! c Tristan Stubbs b Kwena Maphaka.

FREE HIT coming up.

Kagiso Rabada to Nathan Ellis, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Nathan Ellis, No Ball! Oh, that is a big No Ball from KG!

Gone, caught! But is that a no ball? Dear me, it is as Rabada has overstepped!

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, In the air, but will land safely! Back of a length and wide outside off, David looks to power it over the off side but mistims it high up and over covers. The batters cross for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, ! Gets a hold of that one, does Tim David! Dug in well short and over middle, David stays back and makes room before getting on top of the bounce and flat-batting it to the left of Lhuan-dre Pretorius at deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, No run.

Kagiso Rabada returns. 3-0-23-2 so far.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, Pitches the ball fuller and on middle and leg, David presents the full face of the blade and pushes it uppishly down to long on.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, Slower delivery, back of a length and at the bodyline, David just nudges it into the leg side and picks up another single on the final delivery of the over.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, Six!

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, 2 runs.

Lungi Ngidi to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, Six!

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, Six!

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, On the shorter side again and on off, swung away without much timing down to long on for a single.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Fuller in length and on the pads, flicked away just behind square leg for a single by David and he will keep strike for the start of the next over.

Kwena Maphaka to Nathan Ellis, Well managed in the end by Ellis. Back of a length and on off, this one angles away with some sharp bounce. Nathan Ellis hops and manages to glove it wide of the diving keeper and down to deep third for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, ! CAUGHT! Enough power but not enough elevation!

Nathan Ellis walks in next, at number 9, replacing Ben Dwarshuis.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, A quick short ball around off, jumps off the deck and Dwarshuis is beaten on the cut.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, 1 run.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, Hard length, in and around off, chopped down just behind square on the off side and after looking at each other for a couple of seconds, the batters scamper through for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, Back of a length and around off, Dwarshuis fetches the ball and pulls it down to long on for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, ! In the gap! Good-length delivery outside off, just too much width on offer. Ben Dwarshuis stays back, reaches out and glides it through backward point for a boundary. KG isn't happy with that delivery.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, Wide! Oh, seemed like a tight call! Pace off again, dug in shirt over middle and leg, Dwarshuis just sways away from the line of the ball and it is called a wide for being too high.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, Short again, this time at the body, David picks the length early and pulls it firmly towards deep square leg for just a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, This is dug in short by KG and outside off, Tim David stays leg side of the ball and has a swoosh at it, slicing it away through cover-point for a couple of runs.

Kagiso Rabada to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! 50 FOR DAVID IN 29 BALLS! Boy, this came out of nowhere. Amidst the cluster of wickets, someone has eventually got to a half century.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, 2 runs.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! THRASH! A short ball, down the leg side, Tim David swivels, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it over deep backward square leg for half a dozen! And a bloke in the crowd takes a one-handed stinger! Blimey!

Corbin Bosch to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, Slower ball, short of a length, around off, David looks to pull but is early into the shot. Miscues it to Kagiso Rabada at deep mid-wicket, on the bounce. Takes the single.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, Slower ball, on a length, around middle, coming in, Tim David looks to pull but misses and is hit on the pads.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, ! THRASH! That's the power of David.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, FIVE WIDES! A rare bonus for Australia. Linde fires it down the leg side and Dwarshius lets it go. But the keeper, Ryan Rickelton, is blinded and dives but is late and the ball goes through, to the fine leg fence!

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, ! TAKE THAT!

George Linde to Tim David, Full and down the leg side, flicked through square leg for a single.

George Linde to Tim David, Fuller, around leg stump, Tim David looks to defend but the ball pitches and turns away, squaring him up and hitting him on the pads. Linde appeals for LBW but that pitched outside leg.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, A short ball, outside off, cut through point for a single.

George Linde to Ben Dwarshuis, Landed outside off, Ben Dwarshuis looks to punch but gets a bottom edge back onto the pitch.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, A short ball, outside off, pushed towards cover.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Four!

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Six!

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Ben Dwarshuis, 1 run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Tim David, Slower through the air, around middle, Tim David defends. Just a run and a wicket to start off Muthusamy's spell.

Senuran Muthusamy to Ben Dwarshuis, Outside off, pushed down to long off for a single.

Ben Dwarshuis walks in next, at number 8, replacing Glenn Maxwell.

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Maxwell departs now and this might be a 10-over innings!

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, The arm ball, outside off, Glenn looks to go inside out but misses.

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, No run.

Senuran Muthusamy to Glenn Maxwell, No run.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Another good short ball, around leg stump, extra bounce, Tim David rises with the bounce and fends it towards point. 4 runs and a wicket to start off for the teen sensation.

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Wide!

Kwena Maphaka to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

Glenn Maxwell walks in next, at number 7, replacing Mitchell Owen.

Kwena Maphaka to Mitchell Owen, ! BOWLED! The off stump has gone cartwheeling!

Kwena Maphaka to Tim David, Another short ball, pulled away all along the ground, through deep backward square leg for a run.

Kwena Maphaka to Mitchell Owen, A short ball, outside off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Phew. What was that? 4 wickets and 6 sixes and 6 fours in 36 balls. All action. Kwena Maphaka into the attack now.

Kwena Maphaka to Mitchell Owen, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Owen, Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Mitchell Owen is early into his chip and mistimes it towards long on for a single. 71/4 in the POWERPLAY!

Who now?

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, ! CAUGHT! Green's destructive innings come to an end!

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, Four!

Lungi Ngidi to Cameron Green, ! These guys just don't want to stop. Full, down the leg side, Cameron Green gets down on a knee and casually flicks it over deep backward square leg!

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! THIS TIME IT'S TIM DAVID!

Corbin Bosch to Cameron Green, 1 run. Lands it on length and around off, Green hops up and tucks that in front of covers for a quick run.

Corbin Bosch to Cameron Green, ! CLEAN STRIKE FROM GREEN!

Corbin Bosch to Cameron Green, Full and straight, Cameron Green whips it through mid-wicket and sets off for the single. But short mid-wicket dives to his left to intercept and Green has to scurry back.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, Full and straight, swinging in, David heaves hard and the ball goes off the inner half of the bat through square leg. A single taken.

Corbin Bosch to Tim David, ! Corbin Bosch into the attack and is greeted nicely! Overpitched, wide outside off, Tim David reaches out and blasts it over cover for a boundary.

Kagiso Rabada to Cameron Green, ! CLIPPED AWAY NICELY!

Kagiso Rabada to Cameron Green, Wide!

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, A touch shorter and outside off, Tim looks to slap that on the off side, but fails to make a good connection. The ball rolls down past the bowler and a single is taken.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, ! SMOKED! On a length, around middle and off, David stays leg side of the ball and swings it straight back. Seems to have mishit it initially but the ball ends up right near the sightscreen!

Kagiso Rabada to Tim David, On a length, outside off, Tim David defends it towards cover.

Kagiso Rabada to Mitchell Marsh, ! CAUGHT! And now, they are three!

Tim David walks in next, at number 5, replacing his skipper, Mitchell Marsh.

George Linde to Cameron Green, ! GREEN IS IN SOME MOOD!

George Linde to Cameron Green, MORE!

George Linde to Cameron Green, ! PUT AWAY NICELY IN THE OFF SIDE! Lands it on a short, outside off and Green rocks back and puts it through the covers for a boundary.

George Linde to Cameron Green, No run.

George Linde to Josh Inglis, ! CAUGHT! Two wickets in three balls! Short, outside off, Josh Inglis rocks back to cut.

Cameron Green walks in next, at number 4, replacing Josh Inglis.

George Linde to Mitchell Marsh, Short, outside off, Mitchell Marsh stands tall and punches it through the covers for a single.

Josh Inglis walks in next, at number 3, replacing Travis Head. Time for spin as well. Here's George Linde.

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, ! c Kwena Maphaka b Kagiso Rabada.

Gone this time? Almost like a carbon copy of the previous ball, Head has slashed one again, this time probably straight into the hands of the fielder at backward point.

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, IS IT CAUGHT THIS TIME? UMPIRE REVIEWS

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, Action replay of the previous delivery. Okay, slight difference. After the ball went past his attempted slash, Head was heard groaning on the stump mic, 'Ohhhhhhhh!' Absolutely no intention of defending or playing the ball on merit, aye?

Kagiso Rabada to Travis Head, No run.

Kagiso Rabada to Mitchell Marsh, A loosener to start from Rabada as well and he is very lucky to get away with it. Full and down the leg side, Mitchell Marsh swings it casually through fine leg. The fielder in the deep is a bit square and has some distance to cover to his right.

Right. That was some start. Clearly, the intentions are just to go bang bang. What would be interesting to see is - whether this approach continues if wickets fall in clusters. By the way, just felt strange on hearing this from Mark Howard on air. He calls Australia and South Africa as the 'JOINT SECOND FAVOURITES' to win the World Cup next year. Ermm... we usually say the favourites, or one of the favourites, right? Seems like even favourites have begun to get denoted in standings. Here's Kag

Lungi Ngidi to Travis Head, 2 runs.

Lungi Ngidi to Travis Head, Over the wicket. Back of length, and around the hips, Travis Head hops up and keeps it down.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, Pitched it on a good length, outside off, Mitchell Marsh goes back and cuts it hard towards the deep point to rotate the strike.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, No run.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, ! SMASH! Yes, that's a Marsh special.

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, Wide!

All set for play to begin! Template in the West Indies? Win toss, chase. That has changed here, for the Bison. Lost toss, have to set a score now. How will Australia go about it? Especially when they have been pretty open to showing a liking to chasing totals? The new opening pair for the Kangaroos has hopped out to the middle, in the form of head and bison. Wow. Just read that without any capital letters or proper nouns. Pun intended. Skipper Mitchell Marsh strides out with Travis Head. Lung

Lungi Ngidi to Mitchell Marsh, ! Hello! Are we still in the Caribbean?

The Australian skipper, Mitchell Marsh, says that they would have bowled first as well because they haven't played at this venue, but reckons that it looks like a belter. On the opportunity to seal a record 9th straight T20I win, he says he wasn't aware and hopes that the run can continue and they can put on a show for the Darwin crowd. Mentions that this ground is a fair bit bigger than the one in St. Kitts and hopes that they can score plenty of runs.

Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa, says he wants to have a look at the pitch with the ball first and then take the rest of the game from there. He says he is enjoying himself so far. He has been in town for about a week, has explored some nice places, and has also managed to get some good training on the side. Speaking about the series, he says it is part of the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year. They are trying to fine-tune a lot of things, aiming to play about 15–20 games b

South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram (C), Ryan Rickelton (WK), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, and Lungi Ngidi.

Australia (Playing XI) - Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.

TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favor of South Africa. Aiden Markram opts to BOWL first.