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Melbourne: Australia have won the first Twenty20 by 52 runs. The victory was set up by bolter David Warner's audacious 89 off 43 balls. He hit seven fours, half a dozen sixes and led Australia to 182.
South Africa's chase was wrecked after Gibbs fell in Bracken's first over and Tait knocked the wind out of de Villiers. Duminy played a superb innings but he had little support from the other batsmen.
Convincing win for the Australians in the end after they set their opponents a stiff target. Warner took everyone by surprise with a whirlwind knock on debut and that did the maximum damage. The South Africans recovered well in the next 10 overs but their batting today let them down big time. None clicked barring Duminy who sparkled with a well crafted fifty but one performance was never going to be enough.
Warner also wrote a different piece of history. He became the first man to debut for Australia in any format without first-class experience since 1877.
The 22-year-old raced to his half-century from 19 deliveries, the second-fastest in T20 internationals after Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball effort.
South Africa made a disastrous start losing three wickets in the first three overs. Herschelle Gibbs was trapped lbw by Nathan Bracken (2-18) in the third ball of the innings while Ab de Villiers was out hit-wicket to comeback man Shaun Tait (2-36) in the next over. Jacques Kallis was third to go, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus (2-15) as South Africa were reduced to 12 for 3.
The second Twenty20 game is on January 13 in Brisbane. Do join us for that one. Until then, this is George Binoy signing off. Cheers!
Brief Score: Australia 182/9 (Warner 89, Steyn 3-38) beat South Africa 130 (Duminy 78, D Hussey 3-25) by 52 runs
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