DURBAN, South Africa: 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 night.
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. AFP
South Africa
H Amla c and b Coulter-Nile 4
Q de Kock (not out) 41
F du Plessis (not out) 27
Extras (B2, W6) 8
Total (7 overs) 80
Fall of wicket: 1-6
Bowling: Starc 2-0-24-0 (2w), Coulter-Nile 2-0-17-1, Hogg 1-0-5-0, Watson 1-0-14-0, Christian 1-0-18-0
Did not bat: J Duminy, D Miller, A Morkel, F Behardien, W Parnell, K Abbott, B Hendricks, L Tsotsobe
Australia
A Finch c Amla b Abbott 5
D Warner lbw b Duminy 40
S Watson c Abbott b Parnell 2
G Maxwell c Du Plessis b Duminy 1
G Bailey run out (Miller) 2
B Hodge (not out) 21
B Haddin (not out) 4
Extras (LB2, NB1, W4) 7
Total (5 wkts, 6.4 overs) 82
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-46, 3-48, 4-52, 5-60
Bowling: Tsotsobe 1-0-21-0, Abbott 1-0-5-1, Hendricks 2-0-31-0 (1nb, 1w), Parnell 1.4-0-18-1 (1w), Duminy 1-0-5-1 (1w)
Did not bat: D Christian, M Starc, N Coulter-Nile, B Hogg
Man of the match: Brad Hodge (AUS)
Result: Australia won by five wickets
Series: Australia lead the three-match series 1-0
