Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten half century guides Australia to series clinching win over South Africa

Glenn Maxwell produced a match-winning, unbeaten half-century as Australia edged South Africa by two wickets in a thriller to clinch the T20 series 2-1 on Saturday. Chasing 173, Australia needed four runs off the final two balls when Maxwell reverse swiped Lungi Ngidi to third man, sealing victory with 62 not out off 36 balls. Australia finished at 173-8, denying South Africa its first T20 series win on Australian soil.

Earlier, South Africa’s 21-year-old batting prodigy Dewald Brevis struck a blazing 53 off 26 deliveries, including four sixes in one over off Aaron Hardie, before Australia’s bowlers restricted the Proteas to 172-7.

GLENN MAXWELL WINS IT ON THE SECOND LAST BALL!#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/gvrzvyHnGc

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 16, 2025

Australia’s chase was set up by captain Mitchell Marsh, who scored 54 after electing to bat second. Alongside Travis Head, he powered Australia to 66-1 in eight overs before South Africa fought back with four wickets in quick succession. Head, who was dropped by skipper Aiden Markram earlier, soon fell cheaply to short fine leg.

Both teams observed a minute’s silence before play in tribute to Bob Simpson, the former Australia captain and coach who passed away at 89.

Josh Inglis recovered from illness after missing out the last game but was clean bowled by Corbin Bosch off the first ball he faced. But Kwena Maphaka dealt a twin blow when both Marsh and Cameron Green couldn’t clear the fielders in the outfield as Australia slipped to 88-4 in the 11th over. Experienced fast bowler Kagiso Rabada then removed Tim David and Hardie in one over as Australia further slipped to 122-6 before Maxwell farmed the strike and shielded Ben Dwarshuis from the South African pacers.

Dwarshuis contributed just 1 off six balls in a partnership of 41 with Maxwell as the power-hitter didn’t let the asking rate shoot up. With 12 needed off the last two overs, Bosch once again turned the game around with the wickets of Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis off successive balls before Maxwell sealed the game by smashing two boundaries.

Glenn Maxwell seals a cracking finish in Cairns as Australia clinch the T20I series against South Africa ????#AUSvSA ????: https://t.co/FxKwm8AlLb pic.twitter.com/LmnxY6RBtr

— ICC (@ICC) August 16, 2025

“It was a little bit nerve wracking,” Maxwell said after hitting eight fours and two sixes in his player-of-the-match knock. “When we lost a couple of wickets in a row, Corbin Bosch bowled a brilliant over to sort of keep the run rate near 9 or 10 … and I probably had to do the majority of the striking, but it was it was nice to get a couple out of the middle (of the bat) right near the end.”

Earlier, Brevis’ dismissal in the 12th over proved crucial for South Africa when Maxwell plucked a stunning diving catch at wide mid-on to end another blistering knock from a 22-year-old batter as the Proteas could add further 62 off the final 50 balls. Brevis hit six sixes and raised his half-century off just 22 balls when he smacked Hardie for four consecutive sixes before he was undone by Ellis’ short ball and Maxwell took a blinder.

Ellis picked up 3-31 while Adam Zampa (2-24) also squeezed the runs in the middle overs and Josh Hazlewood chipping away with 2-30.

(With AP inputs)