Key events
WICKET! Pretorius c Hardie b Ellis 24 (South Africa 32-2)
Nathan Ellis comes into the attack and strikes with his second delivery just as Lhuan-dre Pretorius was laying the foundation for a big score. It’s a cheap scalp too, as Pretorius picks out Hardie at mid-wicket with a half-hearted pull shot.
4th over: South Africa 32-1 (Rickelton 7, Pretorius 24). Another productive over for the Proteas with Pretorius leading the way. The South Africa No 3 hammers Ben Dwarshuis for three boundaries – the first goes straight over the bowler’s head, the next is a glance to a vacant fine leg, and the last is the pick of the bunch with a crunching straight drive.
3rd over: South Africa 19-1 (Rickelton 7, Pretorius 11). A better over for South Africa as both batters find a boundary. Australia have had success with Glenn Maxwell opening the bowling in the first two matches in the series but seem to think there is a bit of life in this deck in Cairns.
2nd over: South Africa 8-1 (Rickelton 2, Pretorius 5). Rickleton survives a huge scare after testing Marsh’s arm. The South Africa opener drives to mid-off and sets off for a single but is short of his crease as the ball bounces narrowly wide of the stumps. Pretorius adds the first boundary with a loft over mid-on off Aaron Hardie.
1st over: South Africa 2-1 (Rickelton 1, Pretorius 0). Hazlewood takes no time to find his line and length. Markram and Rickleton pick up a single each before the Australia quick strikes with a trademark delivery outside off stump.
WICKET! Markram c Green b Hazlewood 1 (South Africa 2-1)
Josh Hazlewood gives Australia the ideal star as the removes the South Africa captain. Markram steps onto the back foot and swings hard but a thick edge is comfortably grasped by Green at slip.
Josh Hazlewood has the ball in hand and is at the top of his mark with South Africa skipper Aiden Markram on strike. Let’s get into it …
South Africa XI
South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Senuran Mutusamy, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi
One change for the Proteas with Senuran Muthusamy coming into the XI for Nqaba Peter.
Australia XI
Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
The hosts make three changes with Josh Inglis among those to return. Aaron Hardie and Nathan Ellis also come into the XI with Alex Carey, Sean Abbott and the concussed Mitch Owen making way.
Australia win the toss
Australia win the toss and elect to bowl first with captain Mitch Marsh wanting to get a look at the conditions.
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram seems pleased with the outcome and suggests that he would have batted anyway.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third T20 international between Australia and South Africa, as the series goes down to the wire.
The three-match series is all square at one win apiece after a pair of batting powerhouses took turns to light up the fireworks for their team.
Tim David did the damage as Australia took out the first match in Darwin, but that was nothing compared to Dewald Brevis’s record-breaking century for South Africa in the second T20.
While the stakes are high between the pair of old rivals, this is also a historic occasion as the first men’s T20 played at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns.
First ball will be at 7.15pm local time / AEST. I’ll have the toss and team news for you in just a moment.
