Australia targets win to keep series alive
Following a fifth straight Twenty20 International victory on Friday (March 4) after getting past Australia in the first game of a three-match series, Faf du Plessis, the South Africa captain, sounded a warning note to all opposition teams, saying that his side wasn't yet operating at 100 percent.
South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the series after a three-wicket win in the first T20I. At one point, Australia had slipped to 114 for 7 in the 16th over, but recovered to post 157 for 9. South Africa effected a similar recovery courtesy a David Miller special, going from 95 for 6 to chase down the target.
Australia will not only be hoping for a better show in the second T20I in Johannesburg on Sunday, it will also be aware that a run of losses ahead of the upcomingICC World Twenty20 2016in India will not be the best way to mount a campaign for the title.
Australia had begun well, and was 71 for 2 at the start of the eighth over with Aaron Finch on 40 off 18 balls. And then the batsmen ran into Imran Tahir and wickets fell in a heap as the legspinner finished with 3 for 21, nabbing the big wicket of Finch.
Finch agreed that the Australians needed to become more adept at playing the tweakers, especially keeping the World T20 in mind. "It's no secret that teams are targeting us with spin and rightfully so," he said. "We haven't played it all that well over the last little while in the shortest format. India took a lot of wickets with spin and today Imran was all over us.
"It's something we are going to have look to change our plans. The guys are quality players of spin. It's just about changing our mindsets slightly if we do have a few dot balls."
The good news for Australia is that Shane Watson has been given the all-clear to play on Sunday. The experienced all-rounder, who was laid low by an abdominal injury during the Pakistan Super League last month, had a stomach strain so the management wanted to ensure he was fit.
But South Africa, who chose to rest Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn for Saturday's match, can also bolster its side with a series win at stake. Russell Domingo has said that Steyn should ideally play in two of the matches in the series so it's likely he will feature in the second match.
Steyn's return will add to a side already playing fearless cricket in the shortest format, and Australia will have to call on all its never-say-die spirit to stymie the home side.
Squads:South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), AB de Villiers (wkt), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese.
**Australia:**Steven Smith (capt), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill (wk), Andrew Tye, David Warner, Shane Watson, Adam Zampa.