After getting battered at the hands of England in the Test and T20I series at home by 1-3 and 1-2, Proteas are currently playing T20I series against Australia. The first game has been done and dusted with Australia beating the hosts by 107 runs in Johannesburg. The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Bilaterally, this was the first meeting between South Africa and Australia after the ball-tampering stunned the cricketing fraternity in 2018. Australia’s best batsman Steven Smith, David Warner received a negative reception from South Africa fans as they were welcomed with placards and signboards of ‘sandpaper for sale’.
Previously, South Africa won the toss and invited Australia to bat first. Smith’s gritty knock of 45 runs off 32 balls and Aarons Finch’s 42 runs off 27 helped Australia lay a solid platform as the pair stitched together a brilliant partnership of 80 runs for the second wicket.
Alex Carry and Mitchell Marsh chipped in with 27 runs each. Ashton Agar delivered the goods in the end as he scored a quick-fire 22 runs off 9 balls that helped Australia post 196/6 in 20 overs.
In reply, South Africa were bundled out for 89, thanks to Agar as he bowled a match-winning spell of 5/24. He claimed a sensational hat-trick.
Proteas fans take a jibe at David Warner, Steven Smith:
The home crowd started booing Steve Smith during the match. It all happened on the fourth delivery of the third over when South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn pitched a ball that reached Smith on a couple of bounces and the latter smashed it over mid-on for a four. However, the onfield umpire declared it a dead-ball.
But Smith was not at all impressed with the decision. It was then the Proteas fans displayed placards that read, “Sandpaper for sale. Pocket-sized for extra discreetness.”
It was clearly understood that a large section of South African fans at the stadium have not forgiven Smith and Warner for their infamous action during Cape Town Test in 2018.
As Smith’s action was deemed contrary to the spirit of the gentleman’s game, he was handed a year ban along with Warner for their alleged involvement in altering the condition of the ball using sandpaper.
The second T20I game between South Africa and Australia is scheduled to be played on February 23, Sunday at Porth Elizabeth.