Mitchell Marsh’s Australians have toppled South Africa by 5 wickets within the third T20I at Kingsmead to safe a complete 3-0 sequence over the Proteas.

Australian opener Travis Head blasted a career-best 91 (48) throughout Sunday night’s run chase, serving to the vacationers attain the 191-run goal with 13 balls to spare.

The South Australian cleared the boundary rope six occasions all through his blistering knock, combining with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for a fast 85-run partnership for the third wicket.

“There have been limited opportunities for me in this format for a while,” Head mentioned within the post-match presentation.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit to find my tempo at the top, but it’s been nice to contribute tonight.”

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Earlier, a brutal cameo from South African debutant Donavon Ferreira (48 from 21 balls) steered the hosts towards a respectable 8-190, while Australian seamer Sean Abbott claimed a career-best 4-31 to press his case for World Cup selection.

The result caps off a perfect series for Marsh, who has put his hand up to captain more often should Pat Cummins need to pull back from more T20s.

Australia made three changes to its starting XI ahead of the series finale, with Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner making his first international appearance since August 2021.

South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat first, but the decision backfired early when opener Temba Bavuma departed for a golden duck, Travis Head taking a diving catch at point.

Proteas debutant Matthew Breetzke nailed an early boundary before miscuing a pull shot against Marcus Stoinis, spooning a regulation catch to Tim David at mid-on for 5 (7). However, Markram smacked three consecutive boundaries off Abbott in the fifth over to put pressure back on the visitors.

Australian spinner Tanveer Sangha almost removed opener Reeza Hendricks with his second delivery, with the ball ricocheting off the batter’s physique onto the stumps. However, miraculously, the bails had been unmoved regardless of heavy contact.

Markham introduced up the fifty-run partnership for the third wicket with a thumping six, however fell to Abbott later in the identical over, chipping a catch in direction of Turner at cowl for 41 (23).

In the eleventh over, Australia known as for a evaluation after Nathan Ellis struck Proteas wicketkeeper Tristan Stubbs on the pads, however Hawkeye advised the ball would have bounced over off stump.

Hendricks ultimately fell sufferer to Sangha within the thirteenth over, feathering a reduce shot via to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for 42 (30).

Ferreira slapped his second ball in worldwide cricket down the bottom for six, however Stubbs departed the next supply for 25 (16) after clipping a half-volley from Abbott in direction of the boundary rider at cow nook. Three deliveries later, Bjorn Fortuin was caught at cowl by rival captain Marsh, giving Abbott his third scalp.

South Africa had misplaced 3-6 in seven deliveries, however Ferreira and Gerald Coetzee resurrected the innings with a 54-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Abbott broke the stand within the penultimate over, with Coetzee slicing a full supply in direction of long-off for 13 (11).

Ferreira plundered 5 sixes earlier than Inglis nailed an underarm run-out because the Proteas debutant tried to steal a bye in the course of the ultimate over. South African tailender Keshav Maharaj smacked the ultimate supply of the innings for six, a lot to Ellis’ irritation.

Australia’s run chase received off to a horror begin, with opener Matt Short again within the sheds after one supply. The Victorian didn’t trouble losing a evaluation after he was trapped on the pads whereas making an attempt to comb Markram’s first ball.

Head cracked a trio of boundaries in opposition to Proteas fast Lungi Ngidi earlier than fellow seamer Coetzee knocked over Marsh, who miscued a wild slog and was caught by Fortuin for 15 (12). It was the primary time Marsh had been dismissed in your complete sequence.

Head continued on his merry manner on the different finish, mentioning his maiden T20I half-century in 24 deliveries. He reached the minor milestone by bludgeoning spinner Maharaj down the bottom.

South Africa’s frustration grew when Bavuma put down a tricky outfield likelihood within the tenth over, handing Head a reprieve on 55. But the worst was but to come back, with Bavuma botching an absolute sitter at long-on the next over, gifting Inglis an additional life on 40.

It was third time’s the attraction for South Africa, with Inglis top-edging a size supply from Fortuin that Coetzee caught at deep sq. leg, departing for 42 (22).

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Stoinis was extremely fortunate to outlive an LBW shout in opposition to Markram on 13, saved by an inch on Hawkeye. To rub salt into the injuries, he smacked the Proteas skipper’s subsequent supply for six.

The goal was inside touching distance when South Africa lastly eliminated Head, who was caught at long-off 9 runs wanting his maiden T20I century. Bavuma made no errors on this event, but it surely was too little, too late.

The Proteas knocked over Tim David within the 18th over, but it surely was nothing greater than a comfort wicket for Coetzee, with Australia reaching the goal a couple of deliveries later.

“I thought we were slightly better again today,” Markram mentioned within the post-match presentation.

“Probably still not exactly where we want to be, but at least we’re on the upward curve I suppose.”

Attention shifts to the ODI sequence, which will get underway with the primary ODI at Bloemfontein’s Mangaung Oval on Thursday at 9pm AEST.