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Mitchell Marsh has produced a blistering captain\u2019s knock and Tanveer Sangha a dream debut as Australia crushed South Africa by a record 111 runs in the series-opening T20 clash in Durban.<\/p>\n
Marsh thumped an unbeaten 92 off 49 balls and Tim David (64 off 28 balls) also joined in on the fun as Australia posted 6-226 at Kingsmead on Wednesday night (Thursday AEST).<\/p>\n
In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 115 in 15.3 overs, with Sangha (4-31) and Marcus Stoinis (3-18) doing the damage.<\/p>\n
Paceman Spencer Johnson (2-33 off 3.3 overs) was expensive on debut, but he fought back to claim two late wickets, including the scalp of opener Reeza Hendricks (56 off 43 balls).<\/p>\n
Sangha wasn\u2019t even meant to be playing, but the late scratching of Adam Zampa due to illness resulted in the 21-year-old leg-spinner being rushed into the side.<\/p>\n
It meant Australia fielded four debutants: Aaron Hardie, Johnson, Matt Short and Sangha.<\/p>\n
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Mitchell Marsh led from the front as Australia\u2019s new T20 captain.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Zampa is expected to be fit to return for game two, but Sangha\u2019s stunning debut means Australia now face a welcome selection dilemma.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s victory was their largest ever in a T20 against South Africa, bettering the 107-run win in Johannesburg in 2020.<\/p>\n Their total was also the biggest for a T20 international at Kingsmead, eclipsing the 4-218 posted by England against the hosts in 2020.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to start a three-match series with a win, and my job is to score runs, so it was nice to get a couple,\u201d Marsh told Fox Cricket after winning the man-of-the-match award.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Tim David was fantastic, the way he batted took the pressure off me.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a really good partnership, and he batted beautifully.\u201d<\/p>\n The loss of Travis Head (6) off the third ball of the innings brought Marsh to the crease, and the first-time skipper went bang as Australia moved to 1-45 after just 2.3 overs.<\/p>\n Such was Marsh\u2019s power, he slugged Lizaad Williams (3-44) out of the ground and into oncoming traffic in the fifth over.<\/p>\n Australia were in cruise control at 1-69 in the fifth over, but losing Short (20 off 11), Josh Inglis (1) and Stoinis (6) in quick succession resulted in the visitors slumping to 4-77.<\/p>\n Tanveer Sangha stunned on debut for Australia in a match he wasn\u2019t even supposed to be playing in.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n David and Marsh combined for a 97-run partnership to steady the ship.<\/p>\n Marsh\u2019s decision to open the bowling with Stoinis proved a masterstroke, with the all-rounder snaring the scalp of Temba Bavuma in an over that cost just one run.<\/p>\n Sangha was introduced into the fray in the seventh over with South Africa at 2-53.<\/p>\n He snared his maiden T20 scalp with his sixth ball when Aiden Markram struck him straight to backward point.<\/p>\n And when Sangha sent Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs packing in consecutive deliveries in the eighth over, South Africa\u2019s victory hopes were all but dashed.<\/p>\n \u201cAmazing. He\u2019s done that in the Big Bash and for NSW for the last couple of years,\u201d Marsh said of Sangha.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a fantastic young talent. To come in and do that, he\u2019s got great character, and he\u2019s going to fit right into international cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia entered the series without Pat Cummins (wrist), Mitchell Starc (groin), Steve Smith (wrist), Glenn Maxwell (ankle), Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and David Warner.<\/p>\n The white-ball tour of South Africa is Australia\u2019s next step of preparation ahead of October\u2019s ODI World Cup in India.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n