Hodge helps Australia to victory over South Africa in match reduced by rain
T20 encounter in Durban limited to seven overs
Brad Hodge hit two sixes in the last over as Australia clinched a five-wicket win in a helter-skelter second Twenty20 international against South Africa at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
In a match reduced to seven overs a side after heavy rain, Australia needed 15 in the last over to chase down South Africa’s 80 for one. Thanks to Hodge, they achieved it with two balls to spare.
Only two runs came off Wayne Parnell’s first two balls but Hodge launched the third and fourth deliveries over midwicket for six before Parnell bowled a wide to gift Australia the winning runs. Hodge’s innings of 21 not out off eight balls won him the man of the match award.
We knew it was going to be a short game so it was good to see our guys switched on.
Hodge’s last-gasp effort trumped hard-hitting innings of 41 not out by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and 40 by Australia’s David Warner.
South Africa made a slow start after being sent in on an under-prepared pitch which offered enough seam movement to make batting tricky. Hashim Amla made only four off nine balls and the score limped to 11 for one after three overs.
But De Kock hit four sixes in a 20-ball innings as he and skipper Faf du Plessis enabled South Africa to reach 80 for one. Du Plessis hit two sixes in making 27 not out off 13 balls.
Warner carried on in the form which earned him man of the series honours in Australia’s Test series win over South Africa as he lashed 40 off 16 balls with two sixes and five fours.