AI Simulation, AUS vs SA | Tim David and Ben Dwarshuis shine as Australia seal T20I series

08/15/2025

As per Artificial Intelligence, Australia will beat South Africa by five wickets in the third and final T20I in Cairns. Tim David scored his third consecutive half-century to power the side to the target after left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis’s two-wicket spell in the first innings.

‌Pitch & Weather

A fresh Cairns strip with a hint of grass welcomed both sides to the venue. The track had true bounce but it was good for strokeplay early, with spinners getting potential grip later on in the match.

The weather was warm and dry and the conditions were perfect for an evening cricket match.

Toss & Conditions

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.

Lineups

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Senuran Muthusamy, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.

Match Report

In a high-quality T20 contest at Cazaly Stadium, Australia chased down South Africa’s challenging total of 188 to clinch the series decider by five wickets. Tim David’s unbeaten half-century powered the hosts to a comfortable win after Ben Dwarshuis and Adam Zampa’s two-wicket hauls pegged back the visitors after an excellent start.

South Africa’s decision to bat first was justified by a fluent opening partnership between Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram. The South Africa skipper was all timing and placement, while Rickelton counterpunched with clean lofted strokes, hitting seven fours and a six during his knock of 56 off 37 balls. Dewald Brevis continued his sizzling form from the last match as he started aggressively. He dispatched Adam Zampa for two sixes over long-on, en route to his 28-ball 49, which included a total of four sixes and four fours. At 92/1 in the 10th over, a score of over 200 looked possible. However, left-arm pacer Dwarshuis led Australia’s fightback with his change-ups fetching him two wickets. The wickets of Brevis and Stubbs, in quick succession, slowed the momentum a bit. Still, handy cameos from Rassie van der Dussen and Corbin Bosch kept the scoreboard ticking, with South Africa closing at 188/6 after 20 overs. Dwarshuis ended with figures of 2/28 while leg-spinner Zampa also chipped in with two wickets.

Australia’s reply began shakily with Travis Head’s edge to slips off Kwena Maphaka early on in the game. But Cameron Green launched a counterattack, striking Kagiso Rabada for consecutive sixes. His 44 off 23 balls included six fours and two sixes and ensured Australia were ahead of the required rate in the powerplay. Skipper Mitchell Marsh supported with a brisk 36, but both fell, against the run of play, to Rabada and Maphaka, as the game tightened. At 124/4 in the 14th over, the match was finely balanced but Tim David’s monstrous hits gave the home side an edge. He mixed brute force with deft placement, targetting the short leg-side boundary. He smashed five sixes and four fours, including an 18-run over off Senuran Muthusamy, to remain unbeaten on 61 off 33 balls Josh Inglis played the perfect foil, running hard and finding gaps, as the hosts inched closer to a series win. With six needed from the last over, David launched Lungi Ngidi over long-off to seal victory as the team reached 189/5 with five balls remaining. The visitors' pace duo of Rabada and Maphaka had 2/36 and 2/33, respectively, from their four overs.